78 research outputs found
The properties of isolated chiral skyrmions in thin magnetic films
Axisymmetric solitonic states (chiral skyrmions) have been predicted
theoretically more than two decades ago. However, until recently they have been
observed in a form of skyrmionic condensates (hexagonal lattices and other
mesophases). In this paper we report experimental and theoretical
investigations of isolated chiral skyrmions discovered in PdFe/Ir(111) bilayers
two years ago (Science 341 , 636 (2013)). The results of spin-polarized
scanning tunneling microscopy analyzed within the continuum and discrete models
provide a consistent description of isolated skyrmions in thin layers. The
existence region of chiral skyrmions is restricted by strip-out instabilities
at low fields and a collapse at high fields. We demonstrate that the same
equations describe axisymmetric localized states in all condensed matter
systems with broken mirror symmetry, and thus our findings establish basic
properties of isolated skyrmions common for chiral liquid crystals, different
classes of noncentrosymmetric magnets, ferroelectrics, and multiferroics.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure
Spin-sensitive shape asymmetry of adatoms on noncollinear magnetic substrates
The spin-resolved density of states of Co atoms on a noncollinear magnetic support displays a distinct shape contrast, which is superimposed on the regular height contrast in spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. The apparent atom height follows the well-known cosine dependence on the angle formed by the tip and adatom local magnetization directions, whereas the shape contrast exhibits a sine dependence. We explain this effect in terms of a noncollinear spin density induced by the substrate, which in our case is the spin spiral of the Mn monolayer on W(110). The two independent contrast channels, apparent height and shape, are identified with the Co magnetization projections onto two orthogonal axes. As a result, all components of the overall atom magnetic moment vector can be determined with a single spin-sensitive tip in the absence of an external magnetic field. This result should be general for any atom deposited on noncollinear magnetic layers
Atomic Scale Memory at a Silicon Surface
The limits of pushing storage density to the atomic scale are explored with a
memory that stores a bit by the presence or absence of one silicon atom. These
atoms are positioned at lattice sites along self-assembled tracks with a pitch
of 5 atom rows. The writing process involves removal of Si atoms with the tip
of a scanning tunneling microscope. The memory can be reformatted by controlled
deposition of silicon. The constraints on speed and reliability are compared
with data storage in magnetic hard disks and DNA.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Nanotechnolog
Effect of the inhomogeneity of substrate on layering transitions
We study the surface substrate inhomogeneity effect on the wetting of a
spin-1/2 Ising ferromagnetic film in an external magnetic field , using
Monte Carlo simulations. It is found the inhomogeneity leads to the formation
of islands of positive spins in each layer. However, depending on the values of
, for a fixed surface magnetic field , each layer exhibits three
different phases; totally wet, nonwet and partially wet (PW). In the latter
case, we show the existence of three distinct configurations namely: A
configuration (PWTD) in which the layer is partially wet with a total
disconnection between islands; (PWPD) a configuration in which the layer is
partially wet with a partial disconnection between islands; (PWTC) a
configuration in which the layer is partially wet and the islands are totally
connected. Furthermore, we show that an increase of values breaks the
bonds connecting some islands of the phase (PWTC) which leads to an expansion
of the (PWPD) region. On the other hand, the frequency distribution and the
mean size of island are investigated in the (PWTD) region for fixed values of
temperature , and . Moreover, we show the existence of 3D-islands
resulting from the formation of islands in each layer
Noise spectroscopy of a single spin with spin polarized STM
We show how the noise in a spin polarized STM tunneling current gives
valuable spectroscopic information on the temporal susceptibility of a single
magnetic atom residing on a non-magnetic surface.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure. To appear in Physical Review
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
Room temperature chiral magnetic skyrmion in ultrathin magnetic nanostructures
Magnetic skyrmions are chiral spin structures with a whirling configuration.
Their topological properties, nanometer size and the fact that they can be
moved by small current densities have opened a new paradigm for the
manipulation of magnetisation at the nanoscale. To date, chiral skyrmion
structures have been experimentally demonstrated only in bulk materials and in
epitaxial ultrathin films and under external magnetic field or at low
temperature. Here, we report on the observation of stable skyrmions in
sputtered ultrathin Pt/Co/MgO nanostructures, at room temperature and zero
applied magnetic field. We use high lateral resolution X-ray magnetic circular
dichroism microscopy to image their chiral N\'eel internal structure which we
explain as due to the large strength of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction
as revealed by spin wave spectroscopy measurements. Our results are
substantiated by micromagnetic simulations and numerical models, which allow
the identification of the physical mechanisms governing the size and stability
of the skyrmions.Comment: Submitted version. Extended version to appear in Nature
Nanotechnolog
Spin-Polarized Electron Scattering at Single Oxygen Adsorbates on a Magnetic Surface
Scanning tunneling spectroscopy (STS) on the system of isolated oxygen atoms adsorbed on the double layer of Fe on W(110) shows highly anisotropic spatial oscillations in the local density of states in the vicinity of the adsorbates. We explain this in terms of a single-particle model as electron waves being scattered by the potential induced by the presence of the oxygen atoms. Analysis of the wavelength of the standing electron waves and comparison with ab initio spin-resolved electronic structure calculations reveal that minority-spin bands of d-like symmetry are involved in the scattering process. By applying spin-polarized STS, we observe this standing wave pattern on one particular type of magnetic domain of Fe on W(110) only, thereby proving that the standing electron waves are highly spin polarized
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