title: Real-space observation of skyrmion lattice in helimagnet MnSi thin samples.
abstract: Observing and characterizing the spin distributions on a nanometer scale are of vital importance for understanding nanomagnetism and its application to spintronics. The magnetic structure in MnSi thin samples prepared from a bulk, which undergoes a transition from a helix to a skyrmion lattice, was investigated by in situ observation using Lorentz microscopy. Stripe domains were observed at zero applied field below 22.5 K. A skyrmion lattice with 6-fold symmetry in real space appeared when a field of 0.18 T was applied normal to the film plane. The lattice constant was estimated to be 18 nm, almost identical to the helical period. In comparison with the marginally stable skyrmion phase in a bulk sample, the skyrmion phase was stable over a wide range of temperatures and magnetic fields in the thin samples.
authors.affiliation: Advanced Science Institute, RIKEN, Wako, Saitama 351-0198, Japan.
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tonomura
authors.forename: Xiuzhen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Keiichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yanagisawa
authors.forename: Tsuyoshi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matsuda
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Onose
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kanazawa
authors.forename: Hyun Soon
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Park
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokura
mesh_terms: D004867:Equipment Design; D019544:Equipment Failure Analysis; D060526:Magnetic Fields; D059346:Magnets; D008345:Manganese / Q000737:chemistry*; D008422:Materials Testing; D049329:Nanostructures / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D010316:Particle Size; D017655:Silicon Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*
chemical_list: D017655:Silicon Compounds; C539637:manganese silicide; D008345:Manganese