Detection of antiskyrmions by topological Hall effect in Heusler compounds

Abstract

Heusler compounds having $\text{D}$${}_{2d}$ crystal symmetry gained much attention recently due to the stabilization of a vortex-like spin texture called antiskyrmions in thin lamellae of Mn${}_{1.4}$Pt${}_{0.9}$Pd${}_{0.1}$Sn as reported in the work of Nayak $\text{et al.}$ [Nature (London) 548, 561 (2017)]. Here we show that bulk Mn${}_{1.4}$Pt${}_{0.9}$Pd${}_{0.1}$Sn undergoes a spin-reorientation transition from a collinear ferromagnetic to a noncollinear configuration of Mn moments below 135 K, which is accompanied by the emergence of a topological Hall effect. We tune the topological Hall effect in Pd and Rh substituted Mn${}_{1.4}$PtSn Heusler compounds by changing the intrinsic magnetic properties and spin textures. A unique feature of the present system is the observation of a zero-field topological Hall resistivity with a sign change which indicates the robust formation of antiskyrmions.