Topological spin textures form a fundamental paradigm in solid state physics and present unique opportunities to explore exciting phenomena such as the quantum Hall effect. One such non-trivial spin texture is a skyrmion, in which the spins can be mapped to point in all directions wrapping around a sphere. Understanding the formation of these spin textures, and their topological and energetic stability, is crucial in order to control their behavior. In this work, we report on controlling the anisotropy of continuous Co/Pt multilayer films with ion irradiation to form unique domain configurations of artificial skyrmions and antiskyrmions. We elucidate their behavior using aberration-corrected Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. We also discuss the energetic stability of these structures studied through in-situ magnetizing experiments performed at room temperature, combined with micromagnetic simulations that successfully reproduce the spin textures and behavior. As a result, this research offers new opportunities towards creation of artificial skyrmion or antiskyrmion lattices that can be used to investigate not only fundamental properties of their interaction with electron currents but also technological applications such as artificial magnonic crystals.
Zhang, S., et al. "Creation of artificial skyrmions and antiskyrmions by anisotropy engineering." Scientific Reports, vol. 6, Aug. 2016. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep31248
Zhang, S., Petford-Long, A. K., & Phatak, C. (2016). Creation of artificial skyrmions and antiskyrmions by anisotropy engineering. Scientific Reports, 6. https://doi.org/10.1038/srep31248
Zhang, S., Petford-Long, A. K., and Phatak, C., "Creation of artificial skyrmions and antiskyrmions by anisotropy engineering," Scientific Reports 6 (2016), https://doi.org/10.1038/srep31248
@article{osti_1332924,
author = {Zhang, S. and Petford-Long, A. K. and Phatak, C.},
title = {Creation of artificial skyrmions and antiskyrmions by anisotropy engineering},
annote = {Topological spin textures form a fundamental paradigm in solid state physics and present unique opportunities to explore exciting phenomena such as the quantum Hall effect. One such non-trivial spin texture is a skyrmion, in which the spins can be mapped to point in all directions wrapping around a sphere. Understanding the formation of these spin textures, and their topological and energetic stability, is crucial in order to control their behavior. In this work, we report on controlling the anisotropy of continuous Co/Pt multilayer films with ion irradiation to form unique domain configurations of artificial skyrmions and antiskyrmions. We elucidate their behavior using aberration-corrected Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. We also discuss the energetic stability of these structures studied through in-situ magnetizing experiments performed at room temperature, combined with micromagnetic simulations that successfully reproduce the spin textures and behavior. As a result, this research offers new opportunities towards creation of artificial skyrmion or antiskyrmion lattices that can be used to investigate not only fundamental properties of their interaction with electron currents but also technological applications such as artificial magnonic crystals.},
doi = {10.1038/srep31248},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/1332924},
journal = {Scientific Reports},
issn = {ISSN 2045-2322},
volume = {6},
place = {United States},
publisher = {Nature Publishing Group},
year = {2016},
month = {08}}
INTERMAG Asia 2005: Digest of the IEEE International Magnetics Conference, INTERMAG Asia 2005. Digests of the IEEE International Magnetics Conference, 2005.https://doi.org/10.1109/intmag.2005.1463883