A skyrmion is a solution to a specific type of nonlinear sigma model, they occur in several contexts from particle physics (where they were first discovered) to quantum Hall systems where they occur as ground states to weak ferromagnets and muliferroics where they appear as magnetic textures. In each of these cases the skyrmion is a soliton solution, meaning it is a particle-like object in a field, extremely stable in a topological sense.
Sigma Models
Statics
Dynamics
Technological Applications