Skyrmions and merons in two-dimensional antiferromagnetic systems

Abstract

We have investigated (numerically) skyrmions constituted by two merons in two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnets. The behavior and stability of these topological pseudo-particles are analyzed in discrete and finite lattices. The influence of lattice defects and external magnetic fields is also studied. The topological stability dictates that the two merons must be kept apart but processes of annihilation and fusion of merons are observed for finite lattices.