Skyrmion Lattice in Two-Dimensional Chiral Magnet

Abstract: We develop a theory of the magnetic field-induced formation of Skyrmion crystal state in chiral magnets in two spatial dimensions, motivated by the recent discovery of the Skyrmionic phase of magnetization in thin film of Fe${0.5}$Co${0.5}$Si and in the A-phase of MnSi. Ginzburg-Landau functional of the chiral magnet re-written in the CP$^1$ representation is shown to be a convenient framework for the analysis of the Skyrmion states. Phase diagram of the model at zero temperature gives a sequence of ground states, helical spin $\rightarrow$ Skyrme crystal $\rightarrow$ ferromagnet, as the external field $B$ increases, in good accord with the thin-film experiment. In close analogy with Abrikosov's derivation of the vortex lattice solution in type-II superconductor, the CP$^1$ mean-field equation is solved and shown to reproduce the Skyrmion crystal state.