Skyrmions at room temperature : From magnetic thin films to magnetic multilayers

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the stabilization of magnetic skyrmions at room temperature in cobalt-based multilayer thin films, highlighting their potential for future data storage applications due to their small size and stability.

Contribution

It reports the first observation of stable room-temperature skyrmions in multilayer thin films with significant interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions.

Findings

Magnetic skyrmions observed at room temperature.

Skyrmions stabilized by interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions.

Potential for skyrmion-based data storage devices.

Abstract

Facing the ever-growing demand for data storage will most probably require a new paradigm. Magnetic skyrmions are anticipated to solve this issue as they are arguably the smallest spin textures in magnetic thin films in nature. We designed cobalt-based multilayered thin films where the cobalt layer is sandwiched between two heavy metals providing additive interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions, which reach about 2 mJ/m2 in the case of the Ir/Co/Pt multilayers. Using a magnetization-sensitive scanning x-ray transmission microscopy technique, we imaged magnetic bubble-like domains in these multilayers. The study of their behavir in magnetic field allows us to conclude that they are actually magnetic skyrmions stabilized by the Dzyaloshinsskii-Moriya interaction. This discoevry of stable skyrmions at room temperature in a technologically relevant material opens the way for device applications in a near future.