Skyrmion gears: translation-to-rotation conversion of skyrmion clusters along periodic substrates
Abstract
We investigate how the translational motion of a compact skyrmion cluster can be converted into collective rotation through interactions with a periodic obstacle substrate. Using an effective particle model, we consider a seven-skyrmion cluster driven along a one-dimensional array of repulsive obstacle sites. For suitable obstacle spacings and interaction strengths, repeated interactions with the substrate produce coherent clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, giving rise to gear-like cluster dynamics. We characterize these states using the translational velocity, Hall angle, angular velocity, structural deformation, and a dimensionless gear ratio that relates cluster rotation to motion over the substrate periodicity. Dynamical phase diagrams identify rotating, nonrotating, wall-guided, transverse, and deformed regimes. We further show that coherent rotation persists in the overdamped limit, demonstrating that the conversion mechanism does not require an intrinsic Magnus force and may therefore extend to other driven cluster systems, including colloidal assemblies. These results provide a simple route for controlling collective rotation through structured substrates.
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BibTeX
@misc{vizarim2026skyrmion,
title = {{Skyrmion gears: translation-to-rotation conversion of skyrmion clusters along periodic substrates}},
author = {N. P. Vizarim and C. J. O. Reichhardt and C. Reichhardt},
howpublished = {arXiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.48550/arxiv.2610.17102},
eprint = {2610.17102},
archivePrefix = {arXiv},
url = {https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.17102},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Skyrmion gears: translation-to-rotation conversion of skyrmion clusters along periodic substrates
AU - N. P. Vizarim
AU - C. J. O. Reichhardt
AU - C. Reichhardt
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/12
PB - arXiv
DO - 10.48550/arxiv.2610.17102
UR - https://arxiv.org/abs/2610.17102
AB - We investigate how the translational motion of a compact skyrmion cluster can be converted into collective rotation through interactions with a periodic obstacle substrate. Using an effective particle model, we consider a seven-skyrmion cluster driven along a one-dimensional array of repulsive obstacle sites. For suitable obstacle spacings and interaction strengths, repeated interactions with the substrate produce coherent clockwise or counterclockwise rotation, giving rise to gear-like cluster dynamics. We characterize these states using the translational velocity, Hall angle, angular velocity, structural deformation, and a dimensionless gear ratio that relates cluster rotation to motion over the substrate periodicity. Dynamical phase diagrams identify rotating, nonrotating, wall-guided, transverse, and deformed regimes. We further show that coherent rotation persists in the overdamped limit, demonstrating that the conversion mechanism does not require an intrinsic Magnus force and may therefore extend to other driven cluster systems, including colloidal assemblies. These results provide a simple route for controlling collective rotation through structured substrates.
ER -