skyrmionlike

Skyrmionlike refers to structures or phenomena that resemble skyrmions, which are stable, swirling patterns of spins or fields observed in condensed matter physics and related fields. Originally described by British physicist Tony Skyrme in the context of nuclear physics, skyrmions are topological solitons characterized by a continuous, non-trivial swirling configuration that cannot be deformed into a trivial state without crossing an energy barrier. These structures are notable for their stability, robustness, and potential for technological applications.

In condensed matter physics, skyrmionlike textures commonly appear in magnetic materials, notably in chiral magnets where Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions facilitate the formation of nanoscale magnetic whirls. Such magnetic skyrmions can be manipulated using electric currents, making them promising candidates for applications in spintronics, particularly in data storage and logic devices due to their small size and low energy requirements.

Beyond magnetism, the term "skyrmionlike" is also used to describe similar topologically protected structures in other fields, such as in liquid crystals, superconductors, and ultracold atomic gases. These phenomena share common features like stability and non-trivial topological properties, despite differences in their physical realizations.

Research into skyrmionlike configurations advances understanding of topological matter, offering insights into fundamental physics and enabling innovative approaches to information technology. Their study continues to inspire multidisciplinary investigations into complex field patterns, topological protection, and emergent properties in diverse materials and systems.