Topological changes of two-dimensional magnetic textures

We investigate the interaction of magnetic vortices and skyrmions with a spin-polarized current. In a square lattice, fixed classical spins and quantum itinerant electrons, evolve according to the coupled Landau-Lifshitz and Schr"odinger equations. Changes in the topology occur at microscopic time and length scales, and are shown to be triggered by the nucleation of a nontrivial electron-spin structure at the vortex core.