Observation of room-temperature skyrmion Hall effect.

ORAL

Abstract

The realization of room-temperature magnetic skyrmions is key to enabling the implementation of skyrmion-based spintronics. In this work, we present the efficient conversion of chiral stripe domains into N\'{e}el skyrmions through a geometrical constriction patterned in a Ta/CoFeB/TaO$_{\mathrm{x}}$ trilayer film at room temperature. This is enabled by an interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, and laterally divergent current-induced spin-orbit torques [1]. We further show the generation of magnetic skyrmions solely by the divergent spin-orbit torques through a nonmagnetic point contact. By increasing the current density, we observe the skyrmion Hall effect -- that is the accumulation of skyrmions at one side of the device. The related Hall angle for skyrmion motion is also revealed under an \textit{ac} driving current. Financial support for the work at Argonne came from Department of Energy, Office of Science, Basic Energy Science, Materials Sciences and Engineering Division, work at UCLA was supported by TANMS. Reference: [1] W. Jiang, et al., Science, 349, 283 (2015).

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Authors

  • Wanjun Jiang

    Argonne Natl Lab, Argonne National Laboratory

  • X. Zhang

    University of Hong Kong

  • Pramey Upadhyaya

    UCLA, Electrical Engineering, UCLA, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Wei Zhang

    Argonne National Laboratory

  • Guoqiang Yu

    UCLA, Electrical Engineering, UCLA

  • Benjamin Jungfleisch

    Argonne National Laboratory

  • F. Fradin

    Argonne National Laboratory

  • John Pearson

    Argonne National Laboratory

  • Yaroslav Tserkovnyak

    UCLA, Physics and Astronomy, UCLA, Univ of California - Los Angeles

  • Kang Wang

    UCLA, Electrical Engineering, UCLA, Univ of California - Los Angeles, University of California, Los Angeles

  • Olle Heinonen

    Argonne Natl Lab, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne National Lab and Northwestern University

  • Yan Zhou

    University of Hong Kong

  • S.G.E. te Velthuis

    Argonne Natl Lab, Argonne National Laboratory

  • Axel Hoffmann

    Argonne Natl Lab, Argonne National Laboratory