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Skyrmionium metamatter: A topologically heterogeneous magnetic crystal with emergent hybrid dynamics

Andrey O. Leonov1,2,* and Kaito Nakamura1

  • 1Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Hiroshima University Kagamiyama, Higashi Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan
  • 2International Institute for Sustainability with Knotted Chiral Meta Matter, Kagamiyama, Higashi Hiroshima, Hiroshima 739-8526, Japan

  • *Contact author: leonov@hiroshima-u.ac.jp
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Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 036001 – Published 2 March, 2026

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/s8xh-m9qb

Abstract

We introduce and systematically investigate a new class of topological magnetic textures—skyrmionium metamatter—composed of skyrmioniums (Q=0) and skyrmions (Q=−1) arranged in periodic compound lattices that emulate the structural diversity of atomic materials. We show that pure skyrmionium lattices are intrinsically unstable against elongation distortions and relax into spiral states, whereas the inclusion of even a small fraction of skyrmions suppresses this instability and stabilizes a broad family of mixed skyrmion–skyrmionium crystals. These states are classified by their topological stoichiometry and exhibit multiple metastable polymorphs with distinct plane-group symmetries. Smooth transformations between different polymorphs can be achieved by tuning the lattice periodicity, highlighting the reconfigurability of the metamatter. We further analyze the collective spin dynamics of these composite lattices and uncover a rich hierarchy of excitation modes that extends far beyond those of conventional skyrmion lattices. The coexistence of skyrmions and skyrmioniums gives rise to hybrid collective modes with nontrivial phase relations and deformation-assisted dynamics. Our results establish skyrmionium-based metamatter as a versatile platform for designing tunable, topologically heterogeneous magnetic lattices with emergent structural and dynamical properties, opening new opportunities for reconfigurable magnonic and spintronic functionalities.

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Phys. Rev. Materials 10, 036001– Published 2 March, 2026
  • Received 11 November 2025
  • Revised 28 January 2026
  • Accepted 4 February 2026
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