Magnetic skyrmions are tiny, topologically quantized magnetic whirls
stabilized by spin-orbit interactions. They couple extremely efficiently
to charge-, spin- and heat currents and can be manipulated by ultra
small forces. They are therefore promising candidates for, e.g., future
magnetic memories.
The coupling of skyrmions to electrons arises from Berry phases, which
can efficiently be described by an artifical electromagnetic field.
We investigate how the topology of skyrmion phase can be changed by
singular magnetic defects which can be identified as emergent magnetic
monopoles.