Controlling Creation, Annihilation, and Movement of Magnetic Skyrmions Studied by Soft X-ray Microscopy
ORAL · Invited
Abstract
Skyrmions are spatially localized quasiparticle-like topological structures. Massive interests have been attracted to skyrmions because of their non-trivial topological properties that triggers intriguing physical phenomena and their high potentials in a wealth of technological applications. Their nanoscale size, superior stability, purported efficient coupling to electrical currents, energy efficient operation in CMOS-compatible metallic thin films promise skyrmion-electronics toward next-generation novel memory, logic, and neuromorphic/reconfigurable computing applications [1].
In order to realize skyrmion-based electronics, effective creation and deletion of skyrmions at room temperature (RT), controlling skyrmion configuration and movement of skyrmions are key requirements. These issues are not only relevant for the technological applications of skyrmions, but also scientifically important for comprehensive understanding fundamental physics and topological properties of magnetic skyrmions and topological structures in general.
We have addressed these important issues mainly based on X-ray microscopy at a full-field soft X-ray transmission microscope beamline (XM-1, BL6.1.2 at ALS), which is one of the powerful characterization techniques for the study of chiral magnetic structures and nanospin systems in general.
We demonstrated that efficient creation and deletion of RT skyrmions by charge, heat, spin torque can be achieved [2,3]. Additionally, controlling size and density of skyrmions and manipulating movement of magnetic skyrmions through a desired path, which are essential for applications in memory, diode, and logic gate, were extensively studied [4-6].
In order to realize skyrmion-based electronics, effective creation and deletion of skyrmions at room temperature (RT), controlling skyrmion configuration and movement of skyrmions are key requirements. These issues are not only relevant for the technological applications of skyrmions, but also scientifically important for comprehensive understanding fundamental physics and topological properties of magnetic skyrmions and topological structures in general.
We have addressed these important issues mainly based on X-ray microscopy at a full-field soft X-ray transmission microscope beamline (XM-1, BL6.1.2 at ALS), which is one of the powerful characterization techniques for the study of chiral magnetic structures and nanospin systems in general.
We demonstrated that efficient creation and deletion of RT skyrmions by charge, heat, spin torque can be achieved [2,3]. Additionally, controlling size and density of skyrmions and manipulating movement of magnetic skyrmions through a desired path, which are essential for applications in memory, diode, and logic gate, were extensively studied [4-6].
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Publication: [1] A. Fert, N. Reyren, V. Cros, Nat. Rev. Mat. 2, 17031 (2017).<br>[2] Soong-Geun Je et al., Nano Lett. 21, 3, 1253 (2021).<br>[3] Zidong Wang et al., Nat. Electron. 3, 672 (2020).<br>[4] Soong-Geun Je et al., ACS Nano, 14, 3, 3251 (2020).<br>[5] Dae-Han Jung et al., Phys. Rev. B 104, L060408 (2021).<br>[6] Hee-Sung Han et al., to be submitted (2022).
Presenters
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Mi-Young Im
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Authors
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Mi-Young Im
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory