Impact of minute-time-scale kinetics on the stabilization of the skyrmion-lattice in Cu2OSeO3

Abstract

Using small angle neutron scattering measurements, we have previously demonstrated the influence of field-cooling (FC), field-warming (FW) and zero-field-cooling (ZFC) protocols on the thermodynamical stability of the skyrmion-lattice phases SkX(l) and SkX(2) in Cu2OSeO3. Here, we have discovered that small variations in these protocols can have a significant impact on the phase stabilization. Using the ZFC protocol the stabilization of either SkX(l) or SkX(2) can be tuned either by applying the magnetic field directly or with intermediate steps. Furthermore, introducing waiting times at intermediate temperature steps into the FC and FW protocol significantly influences the skyrmion-lattice stabilization. Although for the latter FC and FW experiment, the extrinsic temperature equilibration effect cannot be excluded, the influence of the temperature and magnetic field sweep rate indicates the importance of slow kinetics on the order of a few minutes for the stabilization process.