Magnetic skyrmion stabilization, nucleation, and dynamics on magnetic multilayer thin films

Magnetic skyrmions are particle-like nanoscale magnetic structures currently surging in interest in the spintronics field. Their small size combined with topological stability and efficient manipulation by various electromagnetic excitations make them promising next-generation high-density informati...

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Main Author: Ang, Calvin Ching Ian
Other Authors: Lew Wen Siang
Format: Thesis-Doctor of Philosophy
Language:English
Published: Nanyang Technological University 2022
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10356/158214
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author Ang, Calvin Ching Ian
author2 Lew Wen Siang
author_facet Lew Wen Siang
Ang, Calvin Ching Ian
author_sort Ang, Calvin Ching Ian
collection NTU
description Magnetic skyrmions are particle-like nanoscale magnetic structures currently surging in interest in the spintronics field. Their small size combined with topological stability and efficient manipulation by various electromagnetic excitations make them promising next-generation high-density information carriers. Beyond data storage and memory applications, the diverse magnetic skyrmion interactions and excitations can be further exploited for conventional logic computing and unconventional computing like neuromorphic, probabilistic, and Brownian computing. Skyrmion research is advancing on many fronts to bring these technological ideas into reality, including stabilisation in materials and conditions, reliable nucleation techniques, and precise control of magnetic skyrmions. In this thesis, the spin texture evolution between the labyrinth, stripe, skyrmion, and ferromagnetic states in magnetic multilayer [Pt/Co/Fe/Ir]2 under the first-order reversal curve (FORC) magnetic field sweeps was investigated. Temperature modulation was performed to tune skyrmion phases and acquire their corresponding FORC signatures. Using magneto-optical Kerr microscopy, an analysis technique based on the sweeping field was developed and applied in the derivation of the skyrmion phase. A technique for skyrmion nucleation and deletion by current density modulation independent of current polarity in magnetic multilayer [Pt/Co/Fe/Ir]2 was demonstrated. A high current density induces the nucleation of skyrmions via spin-orbit torque acting on defects. In contrast, the low current density causes a volatile skyrmion-stripe transformation at pinning sites that annihilates other skyrmions. A voltage-induced magnetic skyrmion motion based on voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy gradients was investigated towards a more energy-efficient skyrmion propagation technique. The dynamics of synthetic antiferromagnetic skyrmions on a magnetic anisotropy gradient was investigated numerically, and an analytical model was developed to describe their motion accurately.
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spelling ntu-10356/1582142023-02-28T23:45:45Z Magnetic skyrmion stabilization, nucleation, and dynamics on magnetic multilayer thin films Ang, Calvin Ching Ian Lew Wen Siang School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences WenSiang@ntu.edu.sg Science::Physics::Electricity and magnetism Magnetic skyrmions are particle-like nanoscale magnetic structures currently surging in interest in the spintronics field. Their small size combined with topological stability and efficient manipulation by various electromagnetic excitations make them promising next-generation high-density information carriers. Beyond data storage and memory applications, the diverse magnetic skyrmion interactions and excitations can be further exploited for conventional logic computing and unconventional computing like neuromorphic, probabilistic, and Brownian computing. Skyrmion research is advancing on many fronts to bring these technological ideas into reality, including stabilisation in materials and conditions, reliable nucleation techniques, and precise control of magnetic skyrmions. In this thesis, the spin texture evolution between the labyrinth, stripe, skyrmion, and ferromagnetic states in magnetic multilayer [Pt/Co/Fe/Ir]2 under the first-order reversal curve (FORC) magnetic field sweeps was investigated. Temperature modulation was performed to tune skyrmion phases and acquire their corresponding FORC signatures. Using magneto-optical Kerr microscopy, an analysis technique based on the sweeping field was developed and applied in the derivation of the skyrmion phase. A technique for skyrmion nucleation and deletion by current density modulation independent of current polarity in magnetic multilayer [Pt/Co/Fe/Ir]2 was demonstrated. A high current density induces the nucleation of skyrmions via spin-orbit torque acting on defects. In contrast, the low current density causes a volatile skyrmion-stripe transformation at pinning sites that annihilates other skyrmions. A voltage-induced magnetic skyrmion motion based on voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy gradients was investigated towards a more energy-efficient skyrmion propagation technique. The dynamics of synthetic antiferromagnetic skyrmions on a magnetic anisotropy gradient was investigated numerically, and an analytical model was developed to describe their motion accurately. Doctor of Philosophy 2022-05-18T02:20:10Z 2022-05-18T02:20:10Z 2021 Thesis-Doctor of Philosophy Ang, C. C. I. (2021). Magnetic skyrmion stabilization, nucleation, and dynamics on magnetic multilayer thin films. Doctoral thesis, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. https://hdl.handle.net/10356/158214 https://hdl.handle.net/10356/158214 10.32657/10356/158214 en NRF-CRP9-2011- 01 NRF2015- IIP001-001 A1687b0033 I1801E0030 This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC 4.0). application/pdf Nanyang Technological University
spellingShingle Science::Physics::Electricity and magnetism
Ang, Calvin Ching Ian
Magnetic skyrmion stabilization, nucleation, and dynamics on magnetic multilayer thin films
title Magnetic skyrmion stabilization, nucleation, and dynamics on magnetic multilayer thin films
title_full Magnetic skyrmion stabilization, nucleation, and dynamics on magnetic multilayer thin films
title_fullStr Magnetic skyrmion stabilization, nucleation, and dynamics on magnetic multilayer thin films
title_full_unstemmed Magnetic skyrmion stabilization, nucleation, and dynamics on magnetic multilayer thin films
title_short Magnetic skyrmion stabilization, nucleation, and dynamics on magnetic multilayer thin films
title_sort magnetic skyrmion stabilization nucleation and dynamics on magnetic multilayer thin films
topic Science::Physics::Electricity and magnetism
url https://hdl.handle.net/10356/158214
work_keys_str_mv AT angcalvinchingian magneticskyrmionstabilizationnucleationanddynamicsonmagneticmultilayerthinfilms