CP2 Skyrmions and Skyrmion Crystals in Realistic Quantum Magnets

Magnetic skyrmions are nanoscale topological textures that have been recently observed in different families of quantum magnets. These textures are known as CP$^1$ skyrmions because the target manifold of the magnetization field is the 2D sphere $S^2 \cong$ CP$^{1}$. Here we report the emergence of magnetic CP$^2$ skyrmions in realistic spin-$1$ models. Unlike CP$^1$ skyrmions, CP$^2$ skyrmions can also arise as metastable textures of quantum paramagnets, opening a new road to discover emergent topological solitons in non-magnetic materials. The quantum phase diagram of the spin-$1$ models also includes magnetic field-induced CP$^2$ skyrmion crystals that can be detected with regular momentum- (diffraction) and real-space (Lorentz transmission electron microscopy) experimental techniques.