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Xu J, Xi L, Xing S, Sheng J, Li S, Wang L, Kan X, Ma T, Zang Y, Bao B, Zhou Z, Yang M, Gao Y, Wang D, Wang G, Zheng X, Zhang J, Du H, Xu J, Yin W, Zhang Y, Zhou S, Shen B, Wang S. Magnetic Structure-Dependent Spin Texture Lattice in Hexagonal MnFeCoGe Magnets. ACS NANO 2024; 18:24515-24522. [PMID: 39165001 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c08703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 08/22/2024]
Abstract
Topological spin textures are of great significance in magnetic information storage and spintronics due to their high storage density and low drive current. In this work, the transformation of magnetic configuration from chaotic labyrinth domains to uniform stripe domains was observed in MnFe1-xCoxGe magnets. This change occurs due to the noncollinear magnetic structure switching to a uniaxial ferromagnetic structure with increasing Co content, as identified by neutron diffraction results and Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (L-TEM). Of utmost importance, a hexagonal lattice of high-density robust type-II magnetic bubble lattice was established for x = 0.8 through out-of-plane magnetic field stimulation and field-cooling. The dimensions of the type-II magnetic bubbles were found to be tuned by the sample thickness. Therefore, the stabilization of complex magnetic spin textures, associated with enhanced uniaxial ferromagnetic interaction and magnetic dipole-dipole interaction in MnFe1-xCoxGe through magnetic structure manipulation, as further confirmed by the micromagnetic simulations, will provide a convenient and efficient strategy for designing topological spin textures with potential applications in spintronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawang Xu
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Lei Xi
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Shouyuan Xing
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Junchao Sheng
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Shihao Li
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Liming Wang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Xucai Kan
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Tianping Ma
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Yipeng Zang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Bin Bao
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Zhonghao Zhou
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Mengmeng Yang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Yawei Gao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Dingsong Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Guyue Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Xinqi Zheng
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Jingyan Zhang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing 100083, China
| | - Haifeng Du
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Low-Energy Quantum Materials and Devices, High Magnetic Field Laboratory, HFIPS, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hefei, Anhui 230031, China
| | - Juping Xu
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Guangdong 523803, China
| | - Wen Yin
- Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
- Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Guangdong 523803, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Shiming Zhou
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
| | - Baogen Shen
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Shouguo Wang
- Anhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Magnetic Functional Materials and Devices, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, China
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2
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Zhou Y, Li S, Liang X, Zhou Y. Topological Spin Textures: Basic Physics and Devices. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2024:e2312935. [PMID: 38861696 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202312935] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/13/2024]
Abstract
In the face of escalating modern data storage demands and the constraints of Moore's Law, exploring spintronic solutions, particularly the devices based on magnetic skyrmions, has emerged as a promising frontier in scientific research. Since the first experimental observation of skyrmions, topological spin textures have been extensively studied for their great potential as efficient information carriers in spintronic devices. However, significant challenges have emerged alongside this progress. This review aims to synthesize recent advances in skyrmion research while addressing the major issues encountered in the field. Additionally, current research on promising topological spin structures in addition to skyrmions is summarized. Beyond 2D structures, exploration also extends to 1D magnetic solitons and 3D spin textures. In addition, a diverse array of emerging magnetic materials is introduced, including antiferromagnets and 2D van der Waals magnets, broadening the scope of potential materials hosting topological spin textures. Through a systematic examination of magnetic principles, topological categorization, and the dynamics of spin textures, a comprehensive overview of experimental and theoretical advances in the research of topological magnetism is provided. Finally, both conventional and unconventional applications are summarized based on spin textures proposed thus far. This review provides an outlook on future development in applied spintronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqing Zhou
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518172, China
| | - Shuang Li
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518172, China
| | - Xue Liang
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518172, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong, 518172, China
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3
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Jin S, Wang Y, Zheng H, Dong S, Han K, Wang Z, Wang G, Jiang X, Wang X, Hong J, Huang H, Zhang Y, Xia TL, Wang X. Thickness- and Field-Dependent Magnetic Domain Evolution in van der Waals Fe 3GaTe 2. NANO LETTERS 2024; 24:5467-5473. [PMID: 38647318 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.4c00496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/25/2024]
Abstract
The discovery of room-temperature ferromagnetism in van der Waals (vdW) materials opens new avenues for exploring low-dimensional magnetism and its applications in spintronics. Recently, the observation of the room-temperature topological Hall effect in the vdW ferromagnet Fe3GaTe2 suggests the possible existence of room-temperature skyrmions, yet skyrmions have not been directly observed. In this study, real-space imaging was employed to investigate the domain evolution of the labyrinth and skyrmion structure. First, Néel-type skyrmions can be created at room temperature. In addition, the influence of flake thickness and external magnetic field (during field cooling) on both labyrinth domains and the skyrmion lattice is unveiled. Due to the competition between magnetic anisotropy and dipole interactions, the specimen thickness significantly influences the density of skyrmions. These findings demonstrate that Fe3GaTe2 can host room-temperature skyrmions of various sizes, opening up avenues for further study of magnetic topological textures at room temperature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuaizhao Jin
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Yiting Wang
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Functional Materials & Micro-Nano Devices, Department of Physics, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
- Key Laboratory of Quantum State Construction and Manipulation (Ministry of Education), Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Haotian Zheng
- School of Automation, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Shouzhe Dong
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Kun Han
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Functional Materials & Micro-Nano Devices, Department of Physics, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
- Key Laboratory of Quantum State Construction and Manipulation (Ministry of Education), Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Zhan Wang
- Beijing National State Key Laboratory of Magnetism, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Guangcheng Wang
- School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Xingang Jiang
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Xiaolei Wang
- School of Physics and Optoelectronic Engineering, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing 100124, China
| | - Jiawang Hong
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Houbing Huang
- Advanced Research Institute of Multidisciplinary Science and School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Beijing National State Key Laboratory of Magnetism, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Tian-Long Xia
- Beijing Key Laboratory of Optoelectronic Functional Materials & Micro-Nano Devices, Department of Physics, Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
- Key Laboratory of Quantum State Construction and Manipulation (Ministry of Education), Renmin University of China, Beijing 100872, China
| | - Xueyun Wang
- School of Aerospace Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing 100081, China
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Feng X, Yan S, Zhang X, Yin L, Wang H, Wen Y, Yao J, Wang H, Cheng R, Li Z, He J. Spontaneous Skyrmion Bubbles in an Iron-Silicon Alloy with Uniaxial Magnetic Anisotropy. ACS NANO 2024; 18:8475-8483. [PMID: 38456704 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.4c00658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The magnetic skyrmions exhibit intriguing topological behaviors, holding promise for future applications in the realm of spintronic devices. Despite recent advancements, achieving spontaneous magnetic skyrmions and topological transitions in magnets featuring uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, particularly at elevated temperatures (>100 K), remains a challenging endeavor. Here, single-crystal Fe5Si3 nanorods with the central symmetry and uniaxial magnetic anisotropy were successfully synthesized on a mica substrate through chemical vapor deposition, which exhibit a high Curie temperature (TC) of about 372 K. The real-time observation, facilitated by Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, revealed the spontaneous formation of magnetic skyrmions and evolution of domains in focused ion beam-prepared Fe5Si3 thin foils. Moreover, Fe5Si3 device transport measurements expose notable magnetoresistance (MR) effects, enabling the interchange between positive and negative MR across specific temperature settings. These results offer various potential avenues for exploring diverse topological spin textures and their formation mechanisms, indicating inventive applications for iron-silicon alloy in the realm of spintronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoqiang Feng
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Shanshan Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Featured Metal Materials and Life-cycle Safety for Composite Structures, and School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Xiaolin Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Lei Yin
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Yao Wen
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Jiayi Yao
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Hao Wang
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Ruiqing Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Hubei Luojia Laboratory, Wuhan 430072, China
| | - Zian Li
- State Key Laboratory of Featured Metal Materials and Life-cycle Safety for Composite Structures, and School of Physical Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004, China
| | - Jun He
- Key Laboratory of Artificial Micro- and Nano-structures of Ministry of Education, and School of Physics and Technology, Wuhan University, Wuhan 430072, China
- Hubei Luojia Laboratory, Wuhan 430072, China
- Wuhan Institute of Quantum Technology, Wuhan 430206, China
- Institute of Semiconductors, Henan Academy of Sciences, Zhengzhou 450046, China
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5
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Bhukta M, Dohi T, Bharadwaj VK, Zarzuela R, Syskaki MA, Foerster M, Niño MA, Sinova J, Frömter R, Kläui M. Homochiral antiferromagnetic merons, antimerons and bimerons realized in synthetic antiferromagnets. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1641. [PMID: 38409221 PMCID: PMC10897388 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45375-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
The ever-growing demand for device miniaturization and energy efficiency in data storage and computing technology has prompted a shift towards antiferromagnetic topological spin textures as information carriers. This shift is primarily owing to their negligible stray fields, leading to higher possible device density and potentially ultrafast dynamics. We realize in this work such chiral in-plane topological antiferromagnetic spin textures namely merons, antimerons, and bimerons in synthetic antiferromagnets by concurrently engineering the effective perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, the interlayer exchange coupling, and the magnetic compensation ratio. We demonstrate multimodal vector imaging of the three-dimensional Néel order parameter, revealing the topology of those spin textures and a globally well-defined chirality, which is a crucial requirement for controlled current-induced dynamics. Our analysis reveals that the interplay between interlayer exchange and interlayer magnetic dipolar interactions plays a key role to significantly reduce the critical strength of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction required to stabilize topological spin textures, such as antiferromagnetic merons, in synthetic antiferromagnets, making them a promising platform for next-generation spintronics applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mona Bhukta
- Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany
| | - Takaaki Dohi
- Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
- Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics, Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba, Sendai, 980-8577, Japan.
| | | | - Ricardo Zarzuela
- Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany
| | - Maria-Andromachi Syskaki
- Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany
- Singulus Technologies AG, Hanauer Landstrasse 107, 63796, Kahl am Main, Germany
| | - Michael Foerster
- ALBA Synchrotron Light Facility, 08290, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Miguel Angel Niño
- ALBA Synchrotron Light Facility, 08290, Cerdanyola del Vallés, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jairo Sinova
- Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany
| | - Robert Frömter
- Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
| | - Mathias Kläui
- Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099, Mainz, Germany.
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Liu C, Wang J, He W, Zhang C, Zhang S, Yuan S, Hou Z, Qin M, Xu Y, Gao X, Peng Y, Liu K, Qiu ZQ, Liu JM, Zhang X. Strain-Induced Reversible Motion of Skyrmions at Room Temperature. ACS NANO 2024; 18:761-769. [PMID: 38127497 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.3c09090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/23/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected swirling spin textures with great potential for future spintronic applications. The ability to induce skyrmion motion using mechanical strain not only stimulates the exploration of exotic physics but also affords the opportunity to develop energy-efficient spintronic devices. However, the experimental realization of strain-driven skyrmion motion remains a formidable challenge. Herein, we demonstrate that the inhomogeneous uniaxial compressive strain can induce the movement of isolated skyrmions from regions of high strain to regions of low strain at room temperature, which was directly observed using an in situ Lorentz transmission electron microscope with a specially designed nanoindentation holder. We discover that the uniaxial compressive strain can transform skyrmions into a single domain with in-plane magnetization, resulting in the coexistence of skyrmions with a single domain along the direction of the strain gradient. Through comprehensive micromagnetic simulations, we reveal that the repulsive interactions between skyrmions and the single domain serve as the driving force behind the skyrmion motion. The precise control of skyrmion motion through strain provides exciting opportunities for designing advanced spintronic devices that leverage the intricate interplay between strain and magnetism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chen Liu
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Junlin Wang
- School of Integrated Circuits, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, U.K
| | - Wa He
- Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Chenhui Zhang
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Senfu Zhang
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
- Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Shuai Yuan
- School of Mechanical and Electrical Engineering, Guilin University of Electronic Technology, Guilin 541004, P. R. China
| | - Zhipeng Hou
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute for Advanced Materials, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Minghui Qin
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute for Advanced Materials, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Yongbing Xu
- School of Integrated Circuits, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
- School of Physics, Engineering and Technology, University of York, York YO10 5DD, U.K
| | - Xingsen Gao
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute for Advanced Materials, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
| | - Yong Peng
- Key Laboratory for Magnetism and Magnetic Materials of Ministry of Education, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, P. R. China
| | - Kai Liu
- Physics Department, Georgetown University, Washington, D.C. 20057, United States
| | - Zi Qiang Qiu
- Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, United States
| | - Jun-Ming Liu
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Optical Information Materials and Technology & Institute for Advanced Materials, South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics, South China Normal University, Guangzhou 510006, P. R. China
- Laboratory of Solid State Microstructures and Innovation Center of Advanced Microstructures, Nanjing University, Nanjing 211102, P. R. China
| | - Xixiang Zhang
- Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
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7
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Li Z, Yin Q, Jiang Y, Zhu Z, Gao Y, Wang S, Shen J, Zhao T, Cai J, Lei H, Lin SZ, Zhang Y, Shen B. Discovery of Topological Magnetic Textures near Room Temperature in Quantum Magnet TbMn 6 Sn 6. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2023; 35:e2211164. [PMID: 36856016 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202211164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The study of topology in quantum materials has fundamentally advanced the understanding in condensed matter physics and potential applications in next-generation quantum information technology. Recently, the discovery of a topological Chern phase in the spin-orbit-coupled Kagome lattice TbMn6 Sn6 has attracted considerable interest. Whereas these phenomena highlight the contribution of momentum space Berry curvature and Chern gap on the electronic transport properties, less is known about the intrinsic real space magnetic texture, which is crucial for understanding the electronic properties and further exploring the unique quantum behavior. Here, the stabilization of topological magnetic skyrmions in TbMn6 Sn6 using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy near room temperature, where the spins experience full spin reorientation transition between the a- and c-axes, is directly observed. An effective spin Hamiltonian based on the Ginzburg-Landau theory is constructed and micromagnetic simulation is performed to clarify the critical role of Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida interaction on the stabilization of skyrmion lattice. These results not only uncover nontrivial spin topological texture in TbMn6 Sn6 , but also provide a solid basis to study its interplay with electronic topology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuolin Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Qiangwei Yin
- Laboratory for Neutron Scattering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-Electronic Functional Materials & Micro-Nano Devices, Department of Physics, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Yi Jiang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - ZhaoZhao Zhu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523808, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Shouguo Wang
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Anhui University, Hefei, 230601, China
| | - Jun Shen
- Department of Energy and Power Engineering, School of Mechanical Engineering, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing, 100081, China
| | - Tongyun Zhao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Jianwang Cai
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Hechang Lei
- Laboratory for Neutron Scattering, Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-Electronic Functional Materials & Micro-Nano Devices, Department of Physics, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Shi-Zeng Lin
- Theoretical Division and Center for Integrated Nanotechnologies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Ying Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523808, China
| | - Baogen Shen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- Ningbo Institute of Materials Technology & Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang, 315201, China
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8
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Liu J, Ding B, Liang J, Li X, Yao Y, Wang W. Magnetic Skyrmionic Bubbles at Room Temperature and Sign Reversal of the Topological Hall Effect in a Layered Ferromagnet Cr 0.87Te. ACS NANO 2022; 16:13911-13918. [PMID: 36000915 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.2c02928] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
The search for materials that exhibit topologically protected spin configurations, such as magnetic skyrmions, continues to be fueled by the promise of outstanding candidate components for spin-based applications. In this study, in situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy directly images Bloch-type magnetic skyrmionic bubbles in a layered ferromagnet Cr0.87Te single crystal. Owing to the competition between a magnetic dipole interaction and uniaxial easy axis anisotropy, nanoscale magnetic bubbles with random chirality can be observed in a wide temperature range covering room temperature when the external magnetic field is applied along the out-of-plane direction. Moreover, high-density and stable skyrmionic bubbles are successfully realized at zero magnetic field by appropriate field-cooling manipulation. Additionally, a sign reversal of the Hall effect and the derived topological Hall effect is observed and discussed. As quasi-two-dimensional materials, the binary chromium tellurides hosting magnetic skyrmions could have many applications in low-dimensional skyrmion-based spintronic devices in an ambient atmosphere.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Liu
- Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Bei Ding
- Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Jinjing Liang
- Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xue Li
- Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Yuan Yao
- Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, China
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9
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Xu C, Li X, Chen P, Zhang Y, Xiang H, Bellaiche L. Assembling Diverse Skyrmionic Phases in Fe 3 GeTe 2 Monolayers. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2107779. [PMID: 35023226 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202107779] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 01/05/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Skyrmionic magnetic states are promising in advanced spintronics. This topic is experiencing recent progress in 2D magnets, with, for example, a near 300 K Curie temperature observed in Fe3 GeTe2 . However, despite previous studies reporting skyrmions in Fe3 GeTe2 , such a system remains elusive, since it has been reported to host either Néel-type or Bloch-type textures, while a net Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) cannot occur in this compound for symmetry reasons. It is thus desirable to develop an accurate model to deeply understand Fe3 GeTe2 . Here, a newly developed method adopting spin invariants is applied to build a first-principle-based Hamiltonian, which predicts colorful topological defects assembled from the unit of Bloch lines, and reveals the critical role of specific forms of fourth-order interactions in Fe3 GeTe2 . Rather than the DMI, it is the multiple fourth-order interactions, with symmetry and spin-orbit couplings considered, that stabilize both Néel-type and Bloch-type skyrmions, as well as antiskyrmions, without any preference for clockwise versus counterclockwise spin rotation. This study also demonstrates that spin invariants can be used as a general approach to study complex magnetic interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changsong Xu
- Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Institute of Computational Physical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Qi Zhi Institute, Shanghai, 200232, China
- Physics Department and Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
| | - Xueyang Li
- Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Institute of Computational Physical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Qi Zhi Institute, Shanghai, 200232, China
| | - Peng Chen
- Physics Department and Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
| | - Yun Zhang
- Physics Department and Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
- Department of Physics and Information Technology, Baoji University of Arts and Sciences, Baoji, 721016, China
| | - Hongjun Xiang
- Key Laboratory of Computational Physical Sciences (Ministry of Education), Institute of Computational Physical Sciences, State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics, and Department of Physics, Fudan University, Shanghai, 200433, China
- Shanghai Qi Zhi Institute, Shanghai, 200232, China
| | - Laurent Bellaiche
- Physics Department and Institute for Nanoscience and Engineering, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR, 72701, USA
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10
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Chakraborty A, Srivastava AK, Sharma AK, Gopi AK, Mohseni K, Ernst A, Deniz H, Hazra BK, Das S, Sessi P, Kostanovskiy I, Ma T, Meyerheim HL, Parkin SSP. Magnetic Skyrmions in a Thickness Tunable 2D Ferromagnet from a Defect Driven Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2022; 34:e2108637. [PMID: 35048455 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202108637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
There is considerable interest in van der Waals (vdW) materials as potential hosts for chiral skyrmionic spin textures. Of particular interest is the ferromagnetic, metallic compound Fe3 GeTe2 (FGT), which has a comparatively high Curie temperature (150-220 K). Several recent studies have reported the observation of chiral Néel skyrmions in this compound, which is inconsistent with its presumed centrosymmetric structure. Here the observation of Néel type skyrmions in single crystals of FGT via Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM) is reported. It is shown from detailed X-ray diffraction structure analysis that FGT lacks an inversion symmetry as a result of an asymmetric distribution of Fe vacancies. This vacancy-induced breaking of the inversion symmetry of this compound is a surprising and novel observation and is a prerequisite for a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya vector exchange interaction which accounts for the chiral Néel skyrmion phase. This phenomenon is likely to be common to many 2D vdW materials and suggests a path to the preparation of many such acentric compounds. Furthermore, it is found that the skyrmion size in FGT is strongly dependent on its thickness: the skyrmion size increases from ≈100 to ≈750 nm as the thickness of the lamella is increased from ≈90 nm to ≈2 µm. This extreme size tunability is a feature common to many low symmetry ferro- and ferri-magnetic compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anirban Chakraborty
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Abhay K Srivastava
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Ankit K Sharma
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Ajesh K Gopi
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Katayoon Mohseni
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Arthur Ernst
- Johannes Kepler University, Altenbergerstrβe 69, Linz, 4040, Austria
| | - Hakan Deniz
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Binoy Krishna Hazra
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Souvik Das
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Paolo Sessi
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Ilya Kostanovskiy
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Tianping Ma
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Holger L Meyerheim
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
| | - Stuart S P Parkin
- Department for Nano-Systems from Ions, Spins, and Electrons (NISE), Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, D-06120, Halle(Saale), Germany
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11
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Zuo S, Liu J, Qiao K, Zhang Y, Chen J, Su N, Liu Y, Cao J, Zhao T, Wang J, Hu F, Sun J, Jiang C, Shen B. Spontaneous Topological Magnetic Transitions in NdCo 5 Rare-Earth Magnets. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2021; 33:e2103751. [PMID: 34402532 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202103751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2021] [Revised: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Particle-like magnetic textures with nanometric sizes, such as skyrmions, are potentially suitable for designing high-efficiency information bits in future spintronics devices. In general, the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions and dipolar interactions are the dominant factors for generating nonlinear spin configurations. However, to stabilize the topological skyrmions, an external magnetic field is usually required. In this study, the spontaneous emergence of skyrmions is directly observed, together with the unique successive topological domain evolution during the spin reorientation transition in a neodymium-cobalt (NdCo5 ) rare-earth magnet. On decreasing the temperature, nanometric skyrmion lattices evolve into enclosed in-plane domains (EIPDs) similar to mini bar-magnets with size below 120 nm. The internal magnetization rotates with magnetic anisotropy, demonstrating the ability to manipulate the mini bar-magnets. The nanoscale EIPD lattices remain robust over the wide temperature range of 241-167 K, indicating the possibility of high-density in-plane magnetic information storage. The generation of spontaneous magnetic skyrmions and the successive domain transformation in the traditional NdCo5 rare-earth magnet may prompt application exploration for topological magnetic spin textures with novel physical mechanisms in versatile magnets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shulan Zuo
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Materials and Performance (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Jun Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Kaiming Qiao
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, 100083, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jie Chen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Na Su
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Yanli Liu
- School of Science, Inner Mongolia University of Science and Technology, Baotou, 014010, China
| | - Jun Cao
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Materials and Performance (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Tongyun Zhao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jingmin Wang
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Materials and Performance (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Fengxia Hu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Jirong Sun
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Chengbao Jiang
- Key Laboratory of Aerospace Materials and Performance (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China
| | - Baogen Shen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
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12
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Li Z, Su J, Lin SZ, Liu D, Gao Y, Wang S, Wei H, Zhao T, Zhang Y, Cai J, Shen B. Field-free topological behavior in the magnetic domain wall of ferrimagnetic GdFeCo. Nat Commun 2021; 12:5604. [PMID: 34556648 PMCID: PMC8460835 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-25926-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 09/09/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Exploring and controlling topological textures such as merons and skyrmions has attracted enormous interests from the perspective of fundamental research and spintronic applications. It has been predicted theoretically and proved experimentally that the lattice form of topological meron-skyrmion transformation can be realized with the requirement of external magnetic fields in chiral ferromagnets. However, such topological transition behavior has yet to be verified in other materials. Here, we report real-space observation of magnetic topology transformation between meron pairs and skyrmions in the localized domain wall of ferrimagnetic GdFeCo films without the need of magnetic fields. The topological transformation in the domain wall of ferrimagnet is introduced by temperature-induced spin reorientation transition (SRT) and the underlying mechanism is revealed by micromagnetic simulations. The convenient electric-controlling topology transformation and driving motion along the confined domain wall is further anticipated, which will enable advanced application in magnetic devices. Merons and Skyrmions, two topological spin-textures, have attracted a lot of interests due to their potential use in information storage. Here, the authors demonstrate the transformation of Meron pairs into Skyrmions without an applied magnetic field within domain walls of GdFeCo films.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhuolin Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China.,School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Su
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China.,School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Shi-Zeng Lin
- Theoretical Division, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, NM, 87545, USA
| | - Dan Liu
- Department of Physics, Beijing Technology and Business University, 100048, Beijing, China
| | - Yang Gao
- Institute of Advanced Materials, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Shouguo Wang
- Institute of Advanced Materials, Beijing Normal University, 100875, Beijing, China
| | - Hongxiang Wei
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
| | - Tongyun Zhao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China. .,Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, 523808, Guangdong, China.
| | - Jianwang Cai
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China.,School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
| | - Baogen Shen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100190, Beijing, China.,School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100049, Beijing, China
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13
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Turnbull LA, Birch MT, Laurenson A, Bukin N, Burgos-Parra EO, Popescu H, Wilson MN, Stefančič A, Balakrishnan G, Ogrin FY, Hatton PD. Tilted X-Ray Holography of Magnetic Bubbles in MnNiGa Lamellae. ACS NANO 2021; 15:387-395. [PMID: 33119252 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.0c07392] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Nanoscopic lamellae of centrosymmetric ferromagnetic alloys have recently been reported to host the biskyrmion spin texture; however, this has been disputed as the misidentication of topologically trivial type-II magnetic bubbles. Here we demonstrate resonant soft X-ray holographic imaging of topological magnetic states in lamellae of the centrosymmetric alloy (Mn1-xNix)0.65Ga0.35 (x = 0.5), showing the presence of magnetic stripes evolving into single core magnetic bubbles. We observe rotation of the stripe phase via the nucleation and destruction of disclination defects. This indicates the system behaves as a conventional uniaxial ferromagnet. By utilizing the holography with extended reference by autocorrelation linear differential operator (HERALDO) method, we show tilted holographic images at 30° incidence confirming the presence of type-II magnetic bubbles in this system. This study demonstrates the utility of X-ray imaging techniques in identifying the topology of localized structures in nanoscale magnetism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luke A Turnbull
- Centre for Materials Physics, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE United Kingdom
| | - Max T Birch
- Centre for Materials Physics, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE United Kingdom
- Diamond Light Source, Didcot, OX11 0DE United Kingdom
| | - Angus Laurenson
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QL United Kingdom
| | - Nick Bukin
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QL United Kingdom
| | | | - Horia Popescu
- Synchrotron SOLEIL, Saint Aubin, BP 48, 91192 Gif-sur-Yvette, France
| | - Murray N Wilson
- Centre for Materials Physics, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE United Kingdom
| | - Aleš Stefančič
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL United Kingdom
| | - Geetha Balakrishnan
- Department of Physics, University of Warwick, Coventry, CV4 7AL United Kingdom
| | - Feodor Y Ogrin
- School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Exeter, Exeter, EX4 4QL United Kingdom
| | - Peter D Hatton
- Centre for Materials Physics, Durham University, Durham, DH1 3LE United Kingdom
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14
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Gao Y, Yin Q, Wang Q, Li Z, Cai J, Zhao T, Lei H, Wang S, Zhang Y, Shen B. Spontaneous (Anti)meron Chains in the Domain Walls of van der Waals Ferromagnetic Fe 5- x GeTe 2. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e2005228. [PMID: 33118243 DOI: 10.1002/adma.202005228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 10/03/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
The promise of topologically vortex-like magnetic spin textures hinges on the intriguing physical properties and theories in fundamental research and their distinguished roles as high-efficiency information units in future spintronics. The exploration of such magnetic states with unique spin configurations has never ceased. In this study, the emergence of unconventional (anti)meron chains from a domain wall pair is directly observed at zero field in 2D ferromagnetic Fe5- x GeTe2 , closely correlated with significant enhancement of the in-plane magnetization and weak van der Waals interactions. The simultaneous appearance of a large topological Hall effect is observed at the same temperature range as that of the abnormal magnetic transition. Moreover, the distinctive features of the (anti)meron chains and their collective dynamic behavior under external fields may provide concrete experimental evidence for the recent theoretical prediction of the magnetic-domain-wall topology and endorse a broader range of possibilities for electronics, spintronics, condensed matter physics, etc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Gao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- Institute of Advanced Materials, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Qiangwei Yin
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-Electronic Functional Materials & Micro-Nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Qi Wang
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-Electronic Functional Materials & Micro-Nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Zhuolin Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
| | - Jianwang Cai
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Tongyun Zhao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
| | - Hechang Lei
- Department of Physics and Beijing Key Laboratory of Opto-Electronic Functional Materials & Micro-Nano Devices, Renmin University of China, Beijing, 100872, China
| | - Shouguo Wang
- Institute of Advanced Materials, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, 100875, China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, Guangdong, 523808, China
| | - Baogen Shen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics and Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China
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15
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Zhang X, Zhou Y, Mee Song K, Park TE, Xia J, Ezawa M, Liu X, Zhao W, Zhao G, Woo S. Skyrmion-electronics: writing, deleting, reading and processing magnetic skyrmions toward spintronic applications. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2020; 32:143001. [PMID: 31689688 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/ab5488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
The field of magnetic skyrmions has been actively investigated across a wide range of topics during the last decades. In this topical review, we mainly review and discuss key results and findings in skyrmion research since the first experimental observation of magnetic skyrmions in 2009. We particularly focus on the theoretical, computational and experimental findings and advances that are directly relevant to the spintronic applications based on magnetic skyrmions, i.e. their writing, deleting, reading and processing driven by magnetic field, electric current and thermal energy. We then review several potential applications including information storage, logic computing gates and non-conventional devices such as neuromorphic computing devices. Finally, we discuss possible future research directions on magnetic skyrmions, which also cover rich topics on other topological textures such as antiskyrmions and bimerons in antiferromagnets and frustrated magnets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xichao Zhang
- School of Science and Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518172, People's Republic of China
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16
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Ding B, Li Z, Xu G, Li H, Hou Z, Liu E, Xi X, Xu F, Yao Y, Wang W. Observation of Magnetic Skyrmion Bubbles in a van der Waals Ferromagnet Fe 3GeTe 2. NANO LETTERS 2020; 20:868-873. [PMID: 31869236 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.9b03453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals (vdW) magnetic materials have recently been introduced as a new horizon in materials science, and they enable potential applications for next-generation spintronic devices. Here, in this communication, the observations of stable Bloch-type magnetic skyrmions in single crystals of 2D vdW Fe3GeTe2 (FGT) are reported by using in situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (TEM). We find the ground-state magnetic stripe domains in FGT transform into skyrmion bubbles when an external magnetic field is applied perpendicularly to the (001) thin plate with temperatures below the Curie temperature TC. Most interestingly, a hexagonal lattice of skyrmion bubbles is obtained via field-cooling manipulation with magnetic field applied along the [001] direction. Owing to their topological stability, the skyrmion bubble lattices are stable to large field-cooling tilted angles and further reproduced by utilizing the micromagnetic simulations. These observations directly demonstrate that the 2D vdW FGT possesses a rich variety of topological spin textures, being of great promise for future applications in the field of spintronics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Ding
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Zefang Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Guizhou Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering , Nanjing University of Science and Technology , Nanjing 210094 , China
| | - Hang Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Zhipeng Hou
- South China Academy of Advanced Optoelectronics , South China Normal University , Guangzhou 510006 , China
| | - Enke Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Xuekui Xi
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Feng Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering , Nanjing University of Science and Technology , Nanjing 210094 , China
| | - Yuan Yao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Wenhong Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
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17
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Srivastava AK, Devi P, Sharma AK, Ma T, Deniz H, Meyerheim HL, Felser C, Parkin SSP. Observation of Robust Néel Skyrmions in Metallic PtMnGa. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2020; 32:e1904327. [PMID: 31880023 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201904327] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Revised: 11/03/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Over the past decade the family of chiral noncollinear spin textures has continued to expand with the observation in metallic compounds of Bloch-like skyrmions in several B20 compounds, and antiskyrmions in a tetragonal inverse Heusler. Néel like skyrmions in bulk crystals with broken inversion symmetry have recently been seen in two distinct nonmetallic compounds, GaV4 S8 and VOSe2 O5 at low temperatures (below ≈13 K) only. Here, the first observation of bulk Néel skyrmions in a metallic compound PtMnGa and, moreover, at high temperatures up to ≈220 K is reported. Lorentz transmission electron microscopy reveals the chiral Néel character of the skyrmions. A strong variation is reported of the size of the skyrmions on the thickness of the lamella in which they are confined, varying by a factor of 7 as the thickness is varied from ≈90 nm to ≈4 µm. Moreover, the skyrmions are highly robust to in-plane magnetic fields and can be stabilized in a zero magnetic field using suitable field-cooling protocols over a very broad temperature range to as low as 5 K. These properties, together with the possibility of manipulating skyrmions in metallic PtMnGa via current induced spin-orbit torques, make them extremely exciting for future spintronic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhay K Srivastava
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
- Institute of Physics, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
| | - Parul Devi
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Nöthnitzer Straβe 40, 01187, Dresden, Germany
| | - Ankit K Sharma
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
- Institute of Physics, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
| | - Tianping Ma
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
- Institute of Physics, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
| | - Hakan Deniz
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
| | - Holger L Meyerheim
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
| | - Claudia Felser
- Max Planck Institute for Chemical Physics of Solids, Nöthnitzer Straβe 40, 01187, Dresden, Germany
| | - Stuart S P Parkin
- Max Planck Institute of Microstructure Physics, Weinberg 2, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
- Institute of Physics, Martin Luther University, Halle-Wittenberg, Halle (Saale), D-06120, Germany
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18
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Göbel B, Henk J, Mertig I. Forming individual magnetic biskyrmions by merging two skyrmions in a centrosymmetric nanodisk. Sci Rep 2019; 9:9521. [PMID: 31266991 PMCID: PMC6606756 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-45965-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
When two magnetic skyrmions - whirl-like, topologically protected quasiparticles - form a bound pair, a biskyrmion state with a topological charge of NSk = ±2 is constituted. Recently, especially the case of two partially overlapping skyrmions has brought about great research interest. Since for its formation the individual skyrmions need to posses opposite in-plane magnetizations, such a biskyrmion cannot be stabilized by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya-interaction (DMI), which is the interaction that typically stabilizes skyrmions in non-centrosymmetric materials and at interfaces. Here, we show that these biskyrmions can be stabilized by the dipole-dipole interaction in centrosymmetric materials in which the DMI is forbidden. Analytical considerations indicate that the bound state of a biskyrmion is energetically preferable over two individual skyrmions. As a result, when starting from two skyrmions in a micromagnetic simulation, a biskyrmion is formed upon relaxation. We propose a scheme that allows to control this biskyrmion formation in nanodisks and analyze the individual steps.
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Affiliation(s)
- Börge Göbel
- Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Halle (Saale), 06120, Germany.
| | - Jürgen Henk
- Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institut für Physik, Halle (Saale), 06099, Germany
| | - Ingrid Mertig
- Max-Planck-Institut für Mikrostrukturphysik, Halle (Saale), 06120, Germany
- Martin-Luther-Universität Halle-Wittenberg, Institut für Physik, Halle (Saale), 06099, Germany
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19
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Loudon JC, Twitchett‐Harrison AC, Cortés‐Ortuño D, Birch MT, Turnbull LA, Štefančič A, Ogrin FY, Burgos‐Parra EO, Bukin N, Laurenson A, Popescu H, Beg M, Hovorka O, Fangohr H, Midgley PA, Balakrishnan G, Hatton PD. Do Images of Biskyrmions Show Type-II Bubbles? ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1806598. [PMID: 30844122 PMCID: PMC9285551 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201806598] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The intense research effort investigating magnetic skyrmions and their applications for spintronics has yielded reports of more exotic objects including the biskyrmion, which consists of a bound pair of counter-rotating vortices of magnetization. Biskyrmions have been identified only from transmission electron microscopy images and have not been observed by other techniques, nor seen in simulations carried out under realistic conditions. Here, quantitative Lorentz transmission electron microscopy, X-ray holography, and micromagnetic simulations are combined to search for biskyrmions in MnNiGa, a material in which they have been reported. Only type-I and type-II magnetic bubbles are found and images purported to show biskyrmions can be explained as type-II bubbles viewed at an angle to their axes. It is not the magnetization but the magnetic flux density resulting from this object that forms the counter-rotating vortices.
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Affiliation(s)
- James C. Loudon
- Department of Materials Science and MetallurgyUniversity of Cambridge27 Charles Babbage RoadCambridgeCB3 0FSUK
| | | | - David Cortés‐Ortuño
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonSO17 1BJUK
| | - Max T. Birch
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of DurhamDurhamDH1 3LEUK
| | | | - Aleš Štefančič
- Department of PhysicsUniversity of WarwickCoventryCV4 7ALUK
| | - Feodor Y. Ogrin
- School of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of ExeterExeterEX4 4QLUK
| | | | - Nicholas Bukin
- School of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of ExeterExeterEX4 4QLUK
| | - Angus Laurenson
- School of Physics and AstronomyUniversity of ExeterExeterEX4 4QLUK
| | - Horia Popescu
- Synchrotron SOLEILSaint Aubin, BP 4891192Gif‐sur‐YvetteFrance
| | - Marijan Beg
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonSO17 1BJUK
- European XFEL GmbHHolzkoppel 422869SchenefeldGermany
| | - Ondrej Hovorka
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonSO17 1BJUK
| | - Hans Fangohr
- Faculty of Engineering and Physical SciencesUniversity of SouthamptonSouthamptonSO17 1BJUK
- European XFEL GmbHHolzkoppel 422869SchenefeldGermany
| | - Paul A. Midgley
- Department of Materials Science and MetallurgyUniversity of Cambridge27 Charles Babbage RoadCambridgeCB3 0FSUK
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20
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Li X, Zhang S, Li H, Venero DA, White JS, Cubitt R, Huang Q, Chen J, He L, van der Laan G, Wang W, Hesjedal T, Wang F. Oriented 3D Magnetic Biskyrmions in MnNiGa Bulk Crystals. ADVANCED MATERIALS (DEERFIELD BEACH, FLA.) 2019; 31:e1900264. [PMID: 30866107 PMCID: PMC11284572 DOI: 10.1002/adma.201900264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2019] [Revised: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
A biskyrmion consists of two bound, topologically stable, skyrmion spin textures. These coffee-bean-shaped objects are observed in real space in thin plates using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM). From LTEM imaging alone, it is not clear whether biskyrmions are surface-confined objects, or, analogous to skyrmions in noncentrosymmetric helimagnets, 3D tube-like structures in a bulk sample. Here, the biskyrmion form factor is investigated in single- and polycrystalline-MnNiGa samples using small-angle neutron scattering. It is found that biskyrmions are not long-range ordered, not even in single crystals. Surprisingly all of the disordered biskyrmions have their in-plane symmetry axis aligned along certain directions, governed by the magnetocrystalline anisotropy. This anisotropic nature of biskyrmions may be further exploited to encode information.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyang Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Shilei Zhang
- Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PU, UK
| | - Hang Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
| | - Diego Alba Venero
- ISIS, STFC Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, Didcot, OX11 0QX, UK
| | - Jonathan S White
- Laboratory for Neutron Scattering and Imaging, Paul Scherrer Institute, CH-5232, Villigen, Switzerland
| | - Robert Cubitt
- Institut Laue-Langevin, 6 rue Jules Horowitz, 38042, Grenoble, France
| | - Qingzhen Huang
- NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology, 100 Bureau Drive, Gaithersburg, MD, 20899, USA
| | - Jie Chen
- China Spallation Neutron Source, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Lunhua He
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | | | - Wenhong Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Thorsten Hesjedal
- Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3PU, UK
| | - Fangwei Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China
- School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 101408, China
- Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan, 523808, China
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21
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Hou Z, Zhang Q, Xu G, Zhang S, Gong C, Ding B, Li H, Xu F, Yao Y, Liu E, Wu G, Zhang XX, Wang W. Manipulating the Topology of Nanoscale Skyrmion Bubbles by Spatially Geometric Confinement. ACS NANO 2019; 13:922-929. [PMID: 30605309 DOI: 10.1021/acsnano.8b09689] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The discovery of magnetic skyrmion bubbles in centrosymmetric magnets has been receiving increasing interest from the research community, due to the fascinating physics of topological spin textures and its possible applications to spintronics. However, key challenges remain, such as how to manipulate the nucleation of skyrmion bubbles to exclude the trivial bubbles or metastable skyrmion bubbles that usually coexist with skyrmion bubbles in the centrosymmetric magnets. Here, we report having performed this task by applying spatially geometric confinement to a centrosymmetric frustrated Fe3Sn2 magnet. We demonstrate that the spatially geometric confinement can indeed stabilize the skyrmion bubbles by effectively suppressing the formation of trivial bubbles and metastable skyrmion bubbles. We also show that the critical magnetic field for the nucleation of the skyrmion bubbles in the confined Fe3Sn2 nanostripes is drastically less, by an order of magnitude, than that required in the thin plate without geometrical confinement. By analyzing how the width and thickness of the nanostripes affect the spin textures of skyrmion bubbles, we infer that the topological transition of skyrmion bubbles is closely related to the dipole-dipole interaction, which we find is consistent with theoretical simulations. The results presented here bring us closer to achieving the fabrication of skyrmion-based racetrack memory devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Hou
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- Physical Science and Engineering , King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Physical Science and Engineering , King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Guizhou Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering , Nanjing University of Science and Technology , Nanjing 210094 , China
| | - Senfu Zhang
- Physical Science and Engineering , King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Chen Gong
- Physical Science and Engineering , King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Bei Ding
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Hang Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Feng Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering , Nanjing University of Science and Technology , Nanjing 210094 , China
| | - Yuan Yao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Enke Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Guangheng Wu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
| | - Xi-Xiang Zhang
- Physical Science and Engineering , King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900 , Saudi Arabia
| | - Wenhong Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics , Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
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22
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Peng L, Zhang Y, Ke L, Kim TH, Zheng Q, Yan J, Zhang XG, Gao Y, Wang S, Cai J, Shen B, McQueeney RJ, Kaminski A, Kramer MJ, Zhou L. Relaxation Dynamics of Zero-Field Skyrmions over a Wide Temperature Range. NANO LETTERS 2018; 18:7777-7783. [PMID: 30499678 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.8b03553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The promise of magnetic skyrmions in future spintronic devices hinges on their topologically enhanced stability and the ability to be manipulated by external fields. The technological advantages of nonvolatile zero-field skyrmion lattice (SkL) are significant if their stability and reliability can be demonstrated over a broad temperature range. Here, we study the relaxation dynamics including the evolution and lifetime of zero-field skyrmions generated from field cooling (FC) in an FeGe single-crystal plate via in situ Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (L-TEM). Three types of dynamic switching between zero-field skyrmions and stripes are identified and distinguished. Moreover, the generation and annihilation of these metastable skyrmions can be tailored during and after FC by varying the magnetic fields and the temperature. This dynamic relaxation behavior under the external fields provides a new understanding of zero-field skyrmions for their stability and reliability in spintronic applications and also raises new questions for theoretical models of skyrmion systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Licong Peng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- School of Physical Sciences , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
- U.S. Department of Energy , Ames Laboratory , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
| | - Ying Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- U.S. Department of Energy , Ames Laboratory , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
| | - Liqin Ke
- U.S. Department of Energy , Ames Laboratory , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
| | - Tae-Hoon Kim
- U.S. Department of Energy , Ames Laboratory , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
| | - Qiang Zheng
- Materials Science and Technology Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37831 , United States
| | - Jiaqiang Yan
- Materials Science and Technology Division , Oak Ridge National Laboratory , Oak Ridge , Tennessee 37831 , United States
| | - X-G Zhang
- Department of Physics and the Quantum Theory Project , University of Florida , Gainesville , Florida 32611 , United States
| | - Yang Gao
- Institute of Advanced Materials , Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875 , China
| | - Shouguo Wang
- Institute of Advanced Materials , Beijing Normal University , Beijing 100875 , China
| | - Jianwang Cai
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- School of Physical Sciences , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Baogen Shen
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics , Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190 , China
- School of Physical Sciences , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100049 , China
| | - Robert J McQueeney
- U.S. Department of Energy , Ames Laboratory , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
| | - Adam Kaminski
- U.S. Department of Energy , Ames Laboratory , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
| | - Matthew J Kramer
- U.S. Department of Energy , Ames Laboratory , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
| | - Lin Zhou
- U.S. Department of Energy , Ames Laboratory , Ames , Iowa 50011 , United States
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23
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Hou Z, Zhang Q, Xu G, Gong C, Ding B, Wang Y, Li H, Liu E, Xu F, Zhang H, Yao Y, Wu G, Zhang XX, Wang W. Creation of Single Chain of Nanoscale Skyrmion Bubbles with Record-High Temperature Stability in a Geometrically Confined Nanostripe. NANO LETTERS 2018; 18:1274-1279. [PMID: 29299928 DOI: 10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b04900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Nanoscale topologically nontrivial spin textures, such as magnetic skyrmions, have been identified as promising candidates for the transport and storage of information for spintronic applications, notably magnetic racetrack memory devices. The design and realization of a single skyrmion chain at room temperature (RT) and above in the low-dimensional nanostructures are of great importance for future practical applications. Here, we report the creation of a single skyrmion bubble chain in a geometrically confined Fe3Sn2 nanostripe with a width comparable to the featured size of a skyrmion bubble. Systematic investigations on the thermal stability have revealed that the single chain of skyrmion bubbles can keep stable at temperatures varying from RT up to a record-high temperature of 630 K. This extreme stability can be ascribed to the weak temperature-dependent magnetic anisotropy and the formation of edge states at the boundaries of the nanostripes. The realization of the highly stable skyrmion bubble chain in a geometrically confined nanostructure is a very important step toward the application of skyrmion-based spintronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Hou
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
- Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Qiang Zhang
- Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Guizhou Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology , Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Chen Gong
- Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Bei Ding
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yue Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
| | - Hang Li
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
| | - Enke Liu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
| | - Feng Xu
- School of Materials Science and Engineering, Nanjing University of Science and Technology , Nanjing 210094, China
| | - Hongwei Zhang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
| | - Yuan Yao
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
| | - Guangheng Wu
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
| | - Xi-Xiang Zhang
- Physical Science and Engineering, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) , Thuwal 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia
| | - Wenhong Wang
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences , Beijing 100190, China
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24
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Peng L, Zhang Y, He M, Ding B, Wang W, Li J, Cai J, Wang S, Wu G, Shen B. Multiple tuning of magnetic biskyrmions using in situ L-TEM in centrosymmetric MnNiGa alloy. JOURNAL OF PHYSICS. CONDENSED MATTER : AN INSTITUTE OF PHYSICS JOURNAL 2018; 30:065803. [PMID: 29341957 DOI: 10.1088/1361-648x/aaa527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin configurations and have recently received growingly attention in magnetic materials. The existence of biskyrmions within a broad temperature range has been identified in our newly-discovered MnNiGa material, promising for potential application in physics and technological study. Here, the biskyrmion microscopic origination from the spin configuration evolution of stripe ground state is experimentally identified. The biskyrmion manipulations based on the influences of the basic microstructures and external factors such as grain boundary confinement, sample thickness, electric current, magnetic field and temperature have been systematically studied by using real-space Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. These multiple tuning options help to understand the essential properties of MnNiGa and predict a significant step forward for the realization of skyrmion-based spintronic devices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Licong Peng
- Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, People's Republic of China. School of Physical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, People's Republic of China
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25
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Zuo SL, Zhang Y, Peng LC, Zhao X, Li R, Li H, Xiong JF, He M, Zhao TY, Sun JR, Hu FX, Shen BG. Direct observation of the topological spin configurations mediated by the substitution of rare-earth element Y in MnNiGa alloy. NANOSCALE 2018; 10:2260-2266. [PMID: 29350742 DOI: 10.1039/c7nr08997j] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
The evolution of topological magnetic domains microscopically correlates the dynamic behavior of memory units in spintronic application. Nanometric bubbles with variation of spin configurations have been directly observed in a centrosymmetric hexagonal magnet (Mn0.5Ni0.5)65(Ga1-yYy)35 (y = 0.01) using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy. Magnetic bubbles instead of biskyrmions are generated due to the enhancement of quality factor Q caused by the substitution of rare-earth element Y. Furthermore, the bubble density and diversified spin configurations are systematically manipulated via combining the electric current with perpendicular magnetic fields. The magnetic bubble lattice at zero field is achieved after the optimized manipulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- S L Zuo
- State Key Laboratory for Magnetism, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100190, P. R. China.
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