The skyrmion crystal (SkX) characterized by a multiple-q helical spin modulation has been reported as a unique topological state that competes with the single-q helimagnetic order in non-centrosymmetric materials. Here we report the discovery of a rich variety of multiple-q helimagnetic spin structures in the centrosymmetric cubic perovskite SrFeO3. On the basis of neutron diffraction measurements, we have identified two types of robust multiple-q topological spin structures that appear in the absence of external magnetic fields: an anisotropic double-q spin spiral and an isotropic quadruple-q spiral hosting a three-dimensional lattice of hedgehog singularities. The present system not only diversifies the family of SkX host materials, but furthermore provides an experimental missing link between centrosymmetric lattices and topological helimagnetic order. It also offers perspectives for integration of SkXs into oxide electronic devices.
@article{arxiv.1806.02309,
title = {Emergent topological spin structures in a centrosymmetric cubic perovskite},
author = {S. Ishiwata and T. Nakajima and J. -H. Kim and D. S. Inosov and N. Kanazawa and J. S. White and J. L. Gavilano and R. Georgii and K. Seemann and G. Brandl and P. Manuel and D. D. Khalyavin and S. Seki and Y. Tokunaga and M. Kinoshita and Y. W. Long and Y. Kaneko and Y. Taguchi and T. Arima and B. Keimer and Y. Tokura},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1806.02309},
year = {2020}
}