Writing and Deleting Single Magnetic Skyrmions

Topologically nontrivial spin textures have recently been investigated for spintronic applications. Here, we report on an ultrathin magnetic film in which individual skyrmions can be written and deleted in a controlled fashion with local spin-polarized currents from a scanning tunneling microscope. An external magnetic field is used to tune the energy landscape, and the temperature is adjusted to prevent thermally activated switching between topologically distinct states. Switching rate and direction can then be controlled by the parameters used for current injection. The creation and annihilation of individual magnetic skyrmions demonstrates the potential for topological charge in future information-storage concepts

Writing and Deleting Single Magnetic Skyrmions

Topologically nontrivial spin textures have recently been investigated for spintronic applications. Here, we report on an ultrathin magnetic film in which individual skyrmions can be written and deleted in a controlled fashion with local spin-polarized currents from a scanning tunneling microscope. An external magnetic field is used to tune the energy landscape, and the temperature is adjusted to prevent thermally activated switching between topologically distinct states. Switching rate and direction can then be controlled by the parameters used for current injection. The creation and annihilation of individual magnetic skyrmions demonstrates the potential for topological charge in future information-storage concepts

Electrical detection of magnetic skyrmions by non-collinear magnetoresistance

Magnetic skyrmions are localised non-collinear spin textures with high potential for future spintronic applications. Skyrmion phases have been discovered in a number of materials and a focus of current research is the preparation, detection, and manipulation of individual skyrmions for an implementation in devices. Local experimental characterization of skyrmions has been performed by, e.g., Lorentz microscopy or atomic-scale tunnel magnetoresistance measurements using spin-polarised scanning tunneling microscopy. Here, we report on a drastic change of the differential tunnel conductance for magnetic skyrmions arising from their non-collinearity: mixing between the spin channels locally alters the electronic structure, making a skyrmion electronically distinct from its ferromagnetic environment. We propose this non-collinear magnetoresistance (NCMR) as a reliable all-electrical detection scheme for skyrmions with an easy implementation into device architectures

Pinning and movement of individual nanoscale magnetic skyrmions via defects

<p>An understanding of the pinning of magnetic skyrmions to defects is crucial for the development of<br> future spintronic applications. While pinning is desirable for a precise positioning of magnetic<br> skyrmions it is detrimental when they are to be moved through a material.Weuse scanning tunneling<br> microscopy (STM) to study the interaction between atomic scale defects and magnetic skyrmions that<br> are only a few nanometers in diameter. The studied pinning centers range from single atom inlayer<br> defects and adatoms to clusters adsorbed on the surface of our model system.Wefind very different<br> pinning strengths and identify preferred positions of the skyrmion. The interaction between a cluster<br> and a skyrmion can be sufficiently strong for the skyrmion to follow when the cluster is moved across<br> the surface by lateral manipulation with the STMtip.</p

Electrical detection of magnetic skyrmions by tunnelling non-collinear magnetoresistance

Magnetic skyrmions are localized non-collinear spin textures with a high potential for future spintronic applications(1-12). skyrmion phases have been discovered in a number of materials(9,11) and a focus of current research is to prepare, detect and manipulate individual skyrmions for implementation in devices(6-8). the local experimental characterization of skyrmions has been performed by, for example, lorentz microscopy(3) or atomic-scale tunnel magnetoresistance measurements using spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscopy(4,7,12). here we report a drastic change of the differential tunnel conductance for magnetic skyrmions that arises from their non-collinearity: mixing between the spin channels locally alters the electronic structure, which makes a skyrmion electronically distinct from its ferromagnetic environment. we propose this tunnelling non-collinear magnetoresistance as a reliable all-electrical detection scheme for skyrmions with an easy implementation into device architectures