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Topological States In Matter, Hasitha W. Suriya Arachchige

Doctoral Dissertations

Topologically nontrivial spin textures, mesoscopic spin configurations that cannot be continuously transformed to an elementary magnetic configuration such as a ferromagnet or antiferromagnet, are of interest due to their ability to exhibit magnetic solitons, with topological protection. Such properties have the potential for applications in future data storage and communication devices. For example, spin textures found in materials such as MnSi, Cu2OSe3, Co-Zn-Mn alloys, and GaV4S8, commonly known as skyrmions, are driven by the interplay of atomic-scale exchange interactions, single-ion anisotropy, and an applied magnetic field. Of particular importance to this class of materials is the presence of a Dyaloshinski …