Helimagnons in the skyrmion lattice of MnSi

Abstract

In MnSi the application of a small magnetic field destabilizes the helimagnetic order in a narrow temperature interval just below the helimagnetic ordering temperature and stabilizes the formation of a hexagonal lattice of skyrmions, i.e., a lattice composed of a type of magnetic vortex lines. We have studied the skyrmion lattice in MnSi using a cold triple-axis spectrometer. Our data suggests that the skyrmion lattice represents a three-dimensional spin structure. The collective spin excitations of the skyrmion lattice are strongly reminiscent of the rich spectrum of helimagnon bands, recently shown to be a universal property of the helimagnetic state of MnSi in zero magnetic field. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd.