Observation of the skyrmion side-face state in a chiral magnet

We identify a three-dimensional skyrmion side-face state in chiral magnets that consists of a thin layer of modulated surface spirals and an array of phase-locked skyrmion screws. Such chiral spin structures lead to a characteristic X-shaped magnetic diffraction pattern in resonant elastic x-ray scattering, reminiscent of Photo 51 of the DNA double-helix diffraction. By measuring both thin plates and bulk Cu2OSeO3 crystals in the field-in-plane geometry, we unambiguously identify the modulated skyrmion strings by retrieving their chirality and helix angle. The breaking of the translational symmetry along the side faces suppresses the bulk-favored conical state, providing a stabilization mechanism for the skyrmion lattice phase that has been overlooked so far.