Real-Space Observations of Three-Dimensional Antiskyrmions and Skyrmion Strings

Nanometric topological spin textures, such as skyrmions (Sks) and antiskyrmions (antiSks), have attracted much attention recently. However, most studies have focused on two-dimensional spin textures in films with inherent or synthetic antisymmetric spin-exchange interaction, termed Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, although three-dimensional (3D) topological spin textures, such as antiSks composed of alternating Bloch- and Néel-type spin spirals, chiral bobbers carrying emergent magnetic monopoles, and deformed Sk strings, are ubiquitous. To elucidate these textures, we have developed a 3D nanometric magnetic imaging technique, tomographic Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The approach enables the visualization of the 3D shape of magnetic objects and their 3D vector field mapping. Here we report 3D vector field maps of deformed Sk-strings and antiSk using the technique. This research approach will lead to discoveries and understanding of fertile 3D magnetic structures in a broad class of magnets, providing insight into 3D topological magnetism.