Imane El Achchi

Magnetic skyrmions and antiskyrmions are characterized by an integer topological charge Q=∓1, describing the winding of the magnetic orientation. Half-integer winding numbers, Q=±12, can be obtained for magnetic vortices (merons). Here, we discuss the physics of magnets with fractional topological charge which is neither integer nor half-integer. We argue that in ferromagnetic films with cubic anisotropy, textures with Q=±16 or ±18 arise naturally when three or more magnetic domains meet.