Fig. 4: Comparison between experimental and simulated images of skyrmion braids.

a, b Magnetic images of skyrmion braids containing three and six skyrmion strings, respectively. The upper panel shows experimental underfocus and overfocus Lorentz TEM images and electron optical phase-shift images recorded using off-axis electron holography from sample S2 at 95 K. The lower panel shows the corresponding simulated Lorentz TEM images and phase-shift images. The perpendicular applied magnetic field in a and b is 218 and 187 mT, respectively. The high-contrast feature at the lower-right corner in a is an isolated skyrmion string attached to the edge. The sample size, external magnetic field, defocus and accelerating voltage are the same for the experimental and simulated images.