Square skyrmion lattice in multiorbital f-electron systems
Published in Physical Review B, 2025
Abstract: We report the emergence of a square-shaped skyrmion lattice in multiorbital f-electron systems with easy-axis magnetic anisotropy on a centrosymmetric square lattice. By performing mean-field calculations for an effective localized model consisting of two Kramers doublets, we construct the low-temperature phase diagram in a static external magnetic field. Consequently, we find that a square-shaped skyrmion lattice with the skyrmion number of one appears in the intermediate-field region when the crystal field splitting between the two doublets is small. Furthermore, we identify another double-Q state with a nonzero net scalar chirality at zero- and low-field regions, which is attributed to the help of the multiorbital degree of freedom. Our results offer another route to search for skyrmion-hosting materials in centrosymmetric f-electron tetragonal systems with multiorbital degrees of freedom, e.g., Ce-based compounds. This contrasts with conventional other f-electron systems hosting skyrmion lattices, such as Gd- and Eu-based compounds without orbital angular momentum.
Recommended citation: "Y. Zha and S. Hayami, Square skyrmion lattice in multiorbital $f$-electron systems, Phys. Rev. B \bf{111}, 165155 (2025)."