Progress on elliptical magnetic skyrmions

Magnetic skyrmions,the topological spin textures firstly observed in chiral magnets,have aroused huge interest due to their emergent electromagnetism and potential applications in spintronics.Over the last decade,significant efforts have been devoted to skyrmion generation,stabilization,and dynamics.In most cases,the theoretical and experimental investigations have been performed in the materials where the skyrmions have a circular shape.As we know,magnetic anisotropy(K_(u))and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction(DMI)play key roles in the stabilization of the skyrmions in chiral magnets.Therefore,modifying the Kand DMI provide new degrees of freedom for studying the related physics and applications of skyrmions in addition to engineering their energetics and sizes.In this review,the latest progress on the study of the anisotropic deformation of magnetic skyrmions(i.e.,elliptical magnetic skyrmions)is summarized.The physical origins and important advantages of elliptical magnetic skyrmions are mainly focused on.This review gives an insight into the understanding of the physical mechanisms of elliptical magnetic skyrmion-hosting systems.