Work

Acoustic spin skyrmion molecule lattices enabling stable transport and flexible manipulation

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: Skyrmions—topologically protected nanoscale spin textures with vortex-like configurations— hold transformative potential for ultra-dense data storage, spintronics and quantum computing. However, their practical utility is challenged by dynamic instability, complex interaction, and the lack of deterministic control. Here, we introduce a skyrmion molecule lattice, a novel architecture where pairs of skyrmions with opposite polarizability are symmetry-locked into stable molecule configurations. These molecules emerge as propagating eigenstates of the system, enabling robust transport. Using a boundary engineering technique, we achieve deterministic control over skyrmion creation, deformation, annihilation, and polarizability inversion. This is experimentally demonstrated in a graphene-inspired acoustic surface wave metamaterial by harnessing topological acoustic spin structures. Our work, leveraging symmetry principles, establishes a universal framework for stabilizing, transporting and manipulating the skyrmion quasiparticles.

Source: Nature Communications

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-65611-4

Authors: Lei Liu, Xiujuan Zhang, Ming-Hui Lu, Yan-Feng Chen

Institutions: National Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures, Nanjing University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures

Language: English

Topic: Magnetic properties of thin films

Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $6,990

Funders: National Natural Science Foundation of China, Government of Jiangsu Province