Pinning and hysteresis in the field dependent diameter evolution of skyrmions in Pt/Co/Ir superlattice stacks
Abstract We have imaged Néel skyrmion bubbles in perpendicularly magnetised polycrystalline multilayers patterned into 1 µm diameter dots, using scanning transmission x-ray microscopy. The skyrmion bubbles can be nucleated by the application of an external magnetic field and are stable at zero field...
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| Format: | Article |
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Nature Portfolio
2017-11-01
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| Series: | Scientific Reports |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-15262-3 |
| _version_ | 1828978423321591808 |
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| author | K. Zeissler M. Mruczkiewicz S. Finizio J. Raabe P. M. Shepley A. V. Sadovnikov S. A. Nikitov K. Fallon S. McFadzean S. McVitie T. A. Moore G. Burnell C. H. Marrows |
| author_facet | K. Zeissler M. Mruczkiewicz S. Finizio J. Raabe P. M. Shepley A. V. Sadovnikov S. A. Nikitov K. Fallon S. McFadzean S. McVitie T. A. Moore G. Burnell C. H. Marrows |
| author_sort | K. Zeissler |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract We have imaged Néel skyrmion bubbles in perpendicularly magnetised polycrystalline multilayers patterned into 1 µm diameter dots, using scanning transmission x-ray microscopy. The skyrmion bubbles can be nucleated by the application of an external magnetic field and are stable at zero field with a diameter of 260 nm. Applying an out of plane field that opposes the magnetisation of the skyrmion bubble core moment applies pressure to the bubble and gradually compresses it to a diameter of approximately 100 nm. On removing the field the skyrmion bubble returns to its original diameter via a hysteretic pathway where most of the expansion occurs in a single abrupt step. This contradicts analytical models of homogeneous materials in which the skyrmion compression and expansion are reversible. Micromagnetic simulations incorporating disorder can explain this behaviour using an effective thickness modulation between 10 nm grains. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:18:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-a31626d5c9ff4e829261ae8f9c11054e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2045-2322 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-14T15:18:06Z |
| publishDate | 2017-11-01 |
| publisher | Nature Portfolio |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Scientific Reports |
| spelling | doaj.art-a31626d5c9ff4e829261ae8f9c11054e2022-12-21T22:56:16ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222017-11-01711910.1038/s41598-017-15262-3Pinning and hysteresis in the field dependent diameter evolution of skyrmions in Pt/Co/Ir superlattice stacksK. Zeissler0M. Mruczkiewicz1S. Finizio2J. Raabe3P. M. Shepley4A. V. Sadovnikov5S. A. Nikitov6K. Fallon7S. McFadzean8S. McVitie9T. A. Moore10G. Burnell11C. H. Marrows12School of Physics and Astronomy, University of LeedsInstitute of Electrical Engineering, Slovak Academy of SciencesSwiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer InstituteSwiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer InstituteSchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of LeedsLaboratory “Metamaterials”, Saratov State UniversityLaboratory “Metamaterials”, Saratov State UniversitySchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of GlasgowSchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of GlasgowSchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of GlasgowSchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of LeedsSchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of LeedsSchool of Physics and Astronomy, University of LeedsAbstract We have imaged Néel skyrmion bubbles in perpendicularly magnetised polycrystalline multilayers patterned into 1 µm diameter dots, using scanning transmission x-ray microscopy. The skyrmion bubbles can be nucleated by the application of an external magnetic field and are stable at zero field with a diameter of 260 nm. Applying an out of plane field that opposes the magnetisation of the skyrmion bubble core moment applies pressure to the bubble and gradually compresses it to a diameter of approximately 100 nm. On removing the field the skyrmion bubble returns to its original diameter via a hysteretic pathway where most of the expansion occurs in a single abrupt step. This contradicts analytical models of homogeneous materials in which the skyrmion compression and expansion are reversible. Micromagnetic simulations incorporating disorder can explain this behaviour using an effective thickness modulation between 10 nm grains.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-15262-3 |
| spellingShingle | K. Zeissler M. Mruczkiewicz S. Finizio J. Raabe P. M. Shepley A. V. Sadovnikov S. A. Nikitov K. Fallon S. McFadzean S. McVitie T. A. Moore G. Burnell C. H. Marrows Pinning and hysteresis in the field dependent diameter evolution of skyrmions in Pt/Co/Ir superlattice stacks Scientific Reports |
| title | Pinning and hysteresis in the field dependent diameter evolution of skyrmions in Pt/Co/Ir superlattice stacks |
| title_full | Pinning and hysteresis in the field dependent diameter evolution of skyrmions in Pt/Co/Ir superlattice stacks |
| title_fullStr | Pinning and hysteresis in the field dependent diameter evolution of skyrmions in Pt/Co/Ir superlattice stacks |
| title_full_unstemmed | Pinning and hysteresis in the field dependent diameter evolution of skyrmions in Pt/Co/Ir superlattice stacks |
| title_short | Pinning and hysteresis in the field dependent diameter evolution of skyrmions in Pt/Co/Ir superlattice stacks |
| title_sort | pinning and hysteresis in the field dependent diameter evolution of skyrmions in pt co ir superlattice stacks |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-017-15262-3 |
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