In-plane magnetic field-induced skyrmion crystal in frustrated magnets with easy-plane anisotropy

We theoretically investigate the instability toward a skyrmion crystal (SkX) in frustrated triangular magnets. By performing simulated annealing and Monte Carlo simulations, we show that a frustrated spin model with easy-plane single-ion anisotropy exhibits a SkX in an in-plane external magnetic field. The emergent SkX is a counterpart of that induced by easy-axis anisotropy in an out-of-plane magnetic field, both of which show the topological Hall effect. We also find that a variety of multiple-Q states distinct from the SkX are stabilized in the presence of easy-plane anisotropy. Our results provide a possibility to realize a SkX in easy-plane frustrated magnets by applying an in-plane magnetic field to in-plane cycloidal spiral magnets.