Imprinting skyrmions in thin films by ferromagnetic and superconducting templates

TL;DR

This paper proposes a theoretical method to imprint stable skyrmion arrays in ultrathin ferromagnetic films using magnetic nanostructured templates, including ferromagnetic nanorods and superconducting vortices, which could advance magnetic memory technology.

Contribution

It introduces a novel approach to generate and stabilize skyrmions in magnetic films using nanostructured templates, expanding the potential for skyrmion-based memory devices.

Findings

Skyrmions can be imprinted in ferromagnetic films using nanostructured templates.

Both ferromagnetic nanorods and superconducting vortices effectively generate skyrmions.

Imprinted skyrmions remain stable after removal of the templates.

Abstract

Magnetic skyrmions are promising candidates as information carriers in a new generation of memories. How to generate and stabilize skyrmions is essential for their successful application to technology. Here we theoretically demonstrate that arrays of skyrmions can be imprinted in ultrathin ferromagnetic films in large numbers by bringing a magnetic nanostructured template close to the film. Two kind of templates, allowed by present-day nanotechnologies, are studied: arrays of ferromagnetic nanorods and superconducting vortices. Skyrmions are generated when exposing magnetic films to the template fields for short times and remain stable after removing the template.