Particle-continuum duality of skyrmions

Abstract

Topological solitons are crucial to many branches of physics, such as models of fundamental particles in quantum field theory, information carriers in nonlinear optics, and elementary entities in quantum and classical computations. Chiral magnetic materials are a fertile ground for studying solitons. In the past a few years, a huge number of all kinds of topologically protected localized magnetic solitons have been found. The number is so large, and a proper organization and classification is necessary for their future developments. Here we show that many topological magnetic solitons can be understood from the duality of particle and elastic continuum-medium nature of skyrmions. In contrast to the common belief that a skyrmion is an elementary particle that is indivisible, skyrmions behave like both particle and continuum media that can be tore apart to bury other objects, reminiscing particle-wave duality in quantum mechanics. Skyrmions, like indivisible particles, can be building blocks for cascade skyrmion bags and target skyrmions. They can also act as bags and glues to hold one or more skyrmions together. The principles and rules for stable composite skyrmions are explained and presented, revealing their rich and interesting physics.