Spontaneous nucleation and topological stabilization of skyrmions in magnetic nanodisks with the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction

A. G. Kolesnikov, A. S. Samardak, M. E. Stebliy, A. V. Ognev, L. A. Chebotkevich, A. V. Sadovnikov, S. A. Nikitov, Yong Jin Kim, In Ho Cha, Young Keun Kim

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    13 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    One of the major societal challenges is reducing the power consumption of information technology (IT) devices and numerous data centers. Distinct from the current approaches based on switching of magnetic single-domain nanostructures or on movement of domain walls under high currents, an original magnetic skyrmion technology offers ultra-low power, fast, high-density, and scalable spintronic devices, including non-volatile random access memory. Using data-driven micromagnetic simulations, we demonstrate the possibility of spontaneous nucleation and stabilization of different skyrmionic states, such as skyrmions, merons, and meron-like configurations, in heavy metal/ferromagnetic nanodisks with the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (iDMI) as a result of quasi-static magnetization reversal only. Since iDMI is not easily modulated in real systems, we show that skyrmion stabilization is easily achievable by manipulating magnetic anisotropy, saturation magnetization, and the diameters of nanodisks. The state diagrams, presented in terms of the topological charge, allow to explicitly distinguish the intermediate states between skyrmions and merons and can be used for developing a skyrmionic medium, which has been recently proposed to be a building block for future spin-orbitronic devices.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)221-226
    Number of pages6
    JournalJournal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials
    Volume429
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2017 May 1

    Bibliographical note

    Publisher Copyright:
    © 2017 Elsevier B.V.

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
    • Condensed Matter Physics

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Spontaneous nucleation and topological stabilization of skyrmions in magnetic nanodisks with the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this