Spontaneous Topological (Anti)meron Chains in the Domain Walls of Centrosymmetric Rare‐Earth Magnet

Abstract

AbstractExploration and manipulation of topological protected magnetic swirls, such as skyrmion, antiskyrmion, meron, and vortex, holds significance for fundamental research and practical applications in high‐density magnetic information storage and spintronics because of their high storage density and low driven current. This study unveils the existence of field‐free spontaneous (anti)meron chains with a topological charge of ±1/2 in the centrosymmetric rare‐earth magnet Tb6Co2.17Si2.5 via in situ real‐space observation. The spin reorientation transition from in‐plane to uniaxial anisotropy contributes to the spontaneous transformation from straight domain walls to topological (anti)meron chains and to stripe domains along the [110] zone axis during in situ cooling. The study further confirms the critical role of the noncollinear magnetic structure of Tb atoms in the formation of topological (anti)meron chains via real‐space observations, first‐principles calculations, and micromagnetic simulations. The spontaneous topological magnetic texture is strongly correlated with the 4f electrons of rare‐earth atoms, enriching and stimulating alternative generation mechanisms of topological spin textures from emerging rare‐earth magnets, and further applications in spintronics.