Abstract
We observe that pretransitional order parameter fluctuations of a skyrmion-forming chiral nematic liquid crystal are slowed down for 4 orders of magnitude, if confined to ≲100 nm thin layers. Fluctuating fragments of half-skyrmions are observed in a narrow temperature interval and are explained by thermally activated hopping between the various energy states. Skyrmion fluctuations are accompanied by imbalanced topological charge: positive charges appear at higher temperatures and dominate in the fluctuating region until skyrmions fully condense and negative charges appear at lower temperatures.
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