title: Topological properties and dynamics of magnetic skyrmions.
abstract: Magnetic skyrmions are particle-like nanometre-sized spin textures of topological origin found in several magnetic materials, and are characterized by a long lifetime. Skyrmions have been observed both by means of neutron scattering in momentum space and microscopy techniques in real space, and their properties include novel Hall effects, current-driven motion with ultralow current density and multiferroic behaviour. These properties can be understood from a unified viewpoint, namely the emergent electromagnetism associated with the non-coplanar spin structure of skyrmions. From this description, potential applications of skyrmions as information carriers in magnetic information storage and processing devices are envisaged.
authors.affiliation: 1] RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako 351-0198, Japan [2] Department of Applied Physics, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo 113-8656, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoto
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Nagaosa
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tokura
mesh_terms: D060328:Magnetic Phenomena; D008853:Microscopy; D036103:Nanotechnology; D009502:Neutrons; D010316:Particle Size