Equilibrium Skyrmions and Antiskyrmions in Strained Bulk Ferromagnets at Room Temperature

Control over skyrmion formation and topology at room temperature is foundational to the realization of skyrmion-based spintronic devices. Strained bulk ferromagnets are a rich platform for achieving both goals as strain can precisely adjust the effective magnetic Hamiltonian and thereby control the stability of emergent phases. We use phenomenological and symmetry arguments to identify simple strain fields which may stabilize chiral skyrmions over wide temperature ranges for all crystallographic point groups. We then use first-principles calculations, cluster-expansions and Monte Carlo analysis to computationally demonstrate the strain-induced formation of equilibrium skyrmions and antiskyrmions at room temperature in a proof-of-concept material. Finally, we demonstrate how strain may be used to control the relative stability of skyrmions and antiskyrmions, or engineer a state where these topologies are degenerate.