Nanoscale magnetic skyrmions and target states in confined geometries
Nanoscale magnetic skyrmions and target states in confined geometries
Research on magnetic systems with broken inversion symmetry has been stimulated by the experimental proof of particlelike configurations known as skyrmions, whose nontrivial topological properties make them ideal candidates for spintronic technology. In this class of materials, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions (DMI) are present, which favor the stabilization of chiral configurations. Recent advances in material engineering have shown that in confined geometries it is possible to stabilize skyrmionic configurations at zero field. Moreover, it has been shown that in systems based on Pd/Fe bilayers on top of Ir(111) surfaces skyrmions can be as small as a few nanometres in diameter. In this work, we present scanning tunneling microscopy measurements of small Pd/Fe and Pd2/Fe islands on Ir(111) that exhibit a variety of different spin textures, which can be reproduced using discrete spin simulations. These configurations include skyrmions and skyrmionlike states with extra spin rotations such as the target state, which have been of interest due to their promising dynamic properties. Furthermore, using simulations we analyze the stability of these skyrmionic textures as a function of island size, applied field and boundary conditions of the system. An understanding of the parameters and conditions affecting the stability of these magnetic structures in confined geometries is crucial for the development of energetically efficient and optimally sized skyrmion-based devices.
Cortés-Ortuño, David
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Romming, Niklas
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Beg, Marijan
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Von Bergmann, Kirsten
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Kubetzka, André
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Hovorka, Ondrej
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Fangohr, Hans
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Wiesendanger, Roland
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June 2019
Cortés-Ortuño, David
97d026d6-1083-4edf-8ba6-2f66a3e15033
Romming, Niklas
ad8be501-a54a-474b-8ee6-c5e7f92c12f3
Beg, Marijan
5c7cc1ff-f244-471f-b964-9f24e0628153
Von Bergmann, Kirsten
2422edde-75a0-4014-badd-b84d975299c8
Kubetzka, André
e8451167-9389-4f50-bbef-77efb9a798c2
Hovorka, Ondrej
a12bd550-ad45-4963-aa26-dd81dd1609ee
Fangohr, Hans
9b7cfab9-d5dc-45dc-947c-2eba5c81a160
Wiesendanger, Roland
c505a192-c6bb-4192-9f3f-4e1571f05ebd
Cortés-Ortuño, David, Romming, Niklas, Beg, Marijan, Von Bergmann, Kirsten, Kubetzka, André, Hovorka, Ondrej, Fangohr, Hans and Wiesendanger, Roland
(2019)
Nanoscale magnetic skyrmions and target states in confined geometries.
Physical Review B, 99 (21), [214408].
(doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.99.214408).
Abstract
Research on magnetic systems with broken inversion symmetry has been stimulated by the experimental proof of particlelike configurations known as skyrmions, whose nontrivial topological properties make them ideal candidates for spintronic technology. In this class of materials, Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions (DMI) are present, which favor the stabilization of chiral configurations. Recent advances in material engineering have shown that in confined geometries it is possible to stabilize skyrmionic configurations at zero field. Moreover, it has been shown that in systems based on Pd/Fe bilayers on top of Ir(111) surfaces skyrmions can be as small as a few nanometres in diameter. In this work, we present scanning tunneling microscopy measurements of small Pd/Fe and Pd2/Fe islands on Ir(111) that exhibit a variety of different spin textures, which can be reproduced using discrete spin simulations. These configurations include skyrmions and skyrmionlike states with extra spin rotations such as the target state, which have been of interest due to their promising dynamic properties. Furthermore, using simulations we analyze the stability of these skyrmionic textures as a function of island size, applied field and boundary conditions of the system. An understanding of the parameters and conditions affecting the stability of these magnetic structures in confined geometries is crucial for the development of energetically efficient and optimally sized skyrmion-based devices.
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e-pub ahead of print date: 5 June 2019
Published date: June 2019
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Local EPrints ID: 434181
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/434181
ISSN: 2469-9950
PURE UUID: fb9251a1-e768-4d61-93e3-26a4420d8db7
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Date deposited: 13 Sep 2019 16:30
Last modified: 18 Mar 2024 03:29
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Author:
David Cortés-Ortuño
Author:
Niklas Romming
Author:
Marijan Beg
Author:
Kirsten Von Bergmann
Author:
André Kubetzka
Author:
Roland Wiesendanger
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