Magnetoelectric resonances and predicted microwave diode effect of the skyrmion crystal in a multiferroic chiral-lattice magnet

We theoretically discover that unique eigenmodes of skyrmion crystal (SkX) are not only magnetically active to an ac magnetic field (Hω) but also electrically active to an ac electric field (Eω) in a multiferroic chiral-lattice magnet Cu₂OSeO₃, which amplifies the dynamical magnetoelectric coupling between Eω and the spin texture. The resulting intense interference between their electric and their magnetic activation processes can lead to an unprecedentedly large diode effect on the microwave, i.e., its absorption by SkX changes up to ∼20% when the incident direction is reversed. Our results demonstrate that the skyrmion could be a promising building block for microwave devices.