  Magnetic skyrmions are spin swirling solitonic defects that can play a major
role in information technology. Their future in applications and devices hinges
on their efficient manipulation and detection. Here, we explore from ab-initio
their nature as magnetic inhomongeities in an otherwise unperturbed magnetic
material, Fe layer covered by a thin Pd film and deposited on top of Ir(111)
surface. The presence of skyrmions triggers scattering processes, from which
Friedel oscillations emerge. The latter mediate interactions among skyrmions or
between skyrmions and other potential surrounding defects. In contrast to their
wavelengths, the amplitude of the oscillations depends strongly on the size of
the skyrmion. The analogy with the scattering-off atomic defects enables the
assignment of an effective scattering potential and a phase shift to the
skyrmionic particles, which can be useful to predict their behavior on the
basis of simple scattering frameworks. The induced charge ripples can be
utilized for a noninvasive all-electrical detection of skyrmions located on a
surface or even if buried a few nanometers away from the detecting electrode.
