Whirls in magnets: from skyrmions to magnetic monopoles
Achim Rosch (Universität Köln)

Magnetic skyrmions are tiny, topologically quantized magnetic whirls stabilized by relativistic spin-orbit interactions. They couple extremely efficiently to charge-, spin- and heat currents and can be manipulated by ultra small forces. They are therefore promising candidates for, e.g., future magnetic memories. The coupling of skyrmions to electrons can efficiently be described by artifical electromagnetic fields.
We explore how these fields can be measured. Phase transitions in and out of the skyrmion phase are driven by topological point defects
which can be identified as emergent magnetic monopoles.