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Magnetic skyrmions are key candidates for novel memory, logic, andneuromorphic computing. An essential property is their topological protectioncaused by the whirling spin texture as described by a robust integer windingnumber. However, the realization on an atomic lattice leaves a loophole forswitching the winding number via concerted rotation of individual spins. Hence,understanding the unwinding microscopically is key to enhance skyrmionstability. Here, we use spin polarized scanning tunneling microscopy to probeskyrmion annihilation by individual hot electrons and obtain maps of thetransition rate on the nanometer scale. By applying an in-plane magnetic field,we tune the collapse rate by up to four orders of magnitude. In comparison withfirst-principles based atomistic spin simulations, the experiments demonstratea radial symmetric collapse at zero in-plane magnetic field and a transition tothe recently predicted chimera collapse at finite in-plane field. Our workopens the route to design criteria for skyrmion switches and improved skyrmionstability.

Mechanisms of skyrmion collapse revealed by sub-nm maps of the transition rate