Square skyrmion crystal in centrosymmetric systems with locally inversion-asymmetric layers

We investigate an instability toward a square-lattice formation of magnetic skyrmions in centrosymmetric layered systems. By focusing on a bilayer square-lattice structure with the inversion center at the interlayer bond instead of the atomic site, we numerically examine the stability of the square skyrmion crystal (SkX) based on an effective spin model with the momentum-resolved interaction in the ground state through the simulated annealing. As a result, we find that a layer-dependent staggered Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction built in the lattice structure becomes the origin of the square SkX in an external magnetic field irrespective of the sign of the interlayer exchange interaction. The obtained square SkX is constituted of the SkXs with different helicities in each layer due to the staggered DM interaction. Furthermore, we show that the interplay between the staggered DM interaction and the interlayer exchange interaction gives rise to a double-Q state with a uniform component of the scalar chirality in the low-field region. The present results provide another way of stabilizing the square SkX in centrosymmetric magnets, which will be useful to explore further exotic topological spin textures.

Automated summary

We investigate the instability of magnetic skyrmions towards square-lattice formation in centrosymmetric layered systems. By examining a bilayer square-lattice structure, we find that a layer-dependent staggered Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interaction is the origin of the square skyrmion crystal (SkX), regardless of the interlayer exchange interaction. The obtained square SkX consists of SkXs with different helicities in each layer due to the staggered DM interaction. Additionally, we show that the interplay between the staggered DM interaction and the interlayer exchange interaction leads to a double-Q state with a uniform component of the scalar chirality in the low-field region.