Creation and annihilation of non-volatile fixed magnetic skyrmions using voltage control of magnetic anisotropy

Dhritiman Bhattacharya, Seyed Armin Razavi, Hao Wu, Bingqian Dai, Kang L. Wang, Jayasimha Atulasimha

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

61 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Magnetic skyrmions are topological spin textures that could be used to create magnetic memory and logic devices. Such devices typically rely on current-controlled motion of skyrmions, but using skyrmions that are fixed in space could lead to more compact and energy-efficient devices. Here we report the manipulation of fixed magnetic skyrmions using voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy. We show that skyrmions can be stabilized in antiferromagnet/ferromagnet/oxide heterostructure films without any external magnetic field due to an exchange bias field. The isolated skyrmions are annihilated or formed by applying voltage pulses that increase or decrease the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, respectively. We also show that skyrmions can be created from chiral domains by increasing the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the system. Our experimental findings are corroborated using micromagnetic simulations.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)539-545
Number of pages7
JournalNature Electronics
Volume3
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020 Sept 1

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Instrumentation
  • Electrical and Electronic Engineering

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