About this Research Topic
The discovery of skyrmions in chiral magnets has opened up one of the hottest topics in condensed matter physics. The particle-like properties and nontrivial topology of skyrmions result in peculiar phenomena, providing challenges to researchers with different backgrounds. Over the recent years, the field of skyrmionics has been extended by theoretical predictions and experimental observations of alternative swirling excitations: antiskyrmions, merons, skyrmioniums, etc. It has been realized that such objects can have arbitrary topological charge and immensely complex morphology in two and even three dimensions, and that they can emerge in various media characterized by a vector field: liquid crystals, ferroelectrics and multiferroics. Their localized nature, nontrivial real-space topology and complex structure make solitons in condensed matter fundamentally interesting and technologically relevant. Co-existence of various topological states beyond skyrmions in a single system provides a platform for studying complex interparticle interactions and collective dynamics.
To date, decent understanding of conventional axially symmetric skyrmions has been established. Means to observe, create and control skyrmions have been developed and realized experimentally. In contrast, the knowledge about topological textures beyond skyrmions such as antiskyrmions, skyrmioniums and solitons with arbitrary topological charge is far from being complete. This Research Topic aims at filling this gap. We particularly want to address the problems of controlled nucleation and thermal stability of complex solitons in condensed matter. Assessing these problems is challenging but at the same time essential for enabling further research and possible technological applications. In this respect, the knowledge accumulated in the skyrmion community will be helpful, and interesting results are anticipated.
This Research Topic calls for Original Research articles on developments in the field of topological textures beyond skyrmions in condensed matter. This includes theoretical and experimental studies of exotic solitons in magnets, lattice vibrations, liquid crystals, ferroelectrics and multiferroics, focusing on the problems of nucleation and stability. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
1) Basic interactions favoring complex orders in magnets, liquid crystals, ferroelectrics and multiferroics.
2) Protocols for creation of localized textures beyond skyrmions.
3) Stability of complex solitons with respect to various external stimuli including temperature.
To date, decent understanding of conventional axially symmetric skyrmions has been established. Means to observe, create and control skyrmions have been developed and realized experimentally. In contrast, the knowledge about topological textures beyond skyrmions such as antiskyrmions, skyrmioniums and solitons with arbitrary topological charge is far from being complete. This Research Topic aims at filling this gap. We particularly want to address the problems of controlled nucleation and thermal stability of complex solitons in condensed matter. Assessing these problems is challenging but at the same time essential for enabling further research and possible technological applications. In this respect, the knowledge accumulated in the skyrmion community will be helpful, and interesting results are anticipated.
This Research Topic calls for Original Research articles on developments in the field of topological textures beyond skyrmions in condensed matter. This includes theoretical and experimental studies of exotic solitons in magnets, lattice vibrations, liquid crystals, ferroelectrics and multiferroics, focusing on the problems of nucleation and stability. Topics of interest include, but are not limited to:
1) Basic interactions favoring complex orders in magnets, liquid crystals, ferroelectrics and multiferroics.
2) Protocols for creation of localized textures beyond skyrmions.
3) Stability of complex solitons with respect to various external stimuli including temperature.
Keywords: soliton, magnets, liquid crystals, ferroelectric, multiferroic, nucleation, thermal stability, skyrmion, hopfion, complex order, topological charge, phonons
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