Matjaž Gomilšek from the Condensed Matter Physics Department at the Jožef Stefan Institute and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, University of Ljubljana has published a paper Anisotropic Skyrmion and Multi-q Spin Dynamics in Centrosymmetric Gd₂PdSi₃ in Physical Review Letters as the leading author, together with co-authors from the UK, Switzerland, Germany, Canada, and Japan. In the paper they discover a pronounced directional dependence of magnetic dynamics in topologically-protected whirls of magnetization called skyrmions. The observed behavior is very unusual, since the studied material is highly symmetrical. The researchers also discover a strong directional dependence of magnetic dynamics in the previously-unidentified ground state of the material, which suggests that it is the much-sought-after lattice of merons (“halves” of a skyrmion). These discoveries significantly contribute to solving the puzzle of the stability of topological magnetic textures in highly symmetrical materials. Skyrmions can be used for data storage, spintronics (a magnetic analogue of electronics), or as a platform for advanced (reservoir-computing) artificial intelligence.