Purely electrical detection of a skyrmion in constricted geometry

TL;DR

This paper proposes a purely electrical method to detect skyrmion positions in constricted geometries by measuring Hall conductance, effective even at room temperature, advancing skyrmion-based electronic technologies.

Contribution

It introduces a novel electrical detection technique for skyrmions using Hall conductance measurements in constricted geometries, considering effects of temperature and scattering.

Findings

Hall conductance peaks when skyrmion is at the lead position

Detection is feasible at room temperature

Optimal sample width depends on skyrmion radius

Abstract

How to detect the skyrmion position is a crucial problem in future skyrmionics since it corresponds to the reading process of information. We propose a method to detect the skyrmion position purely electrically by measuring the Hall conductance in a constricted geometry. The Hall conductance becomes maximum when a skyrmion is at the lead position. It is possible to detect the skyrmion position even at room temperature. We find an optimized width of the sample determined by the skyrmion radius. We also investigate the effects of elastic and inelastic scatterings, and finite temperature. We find that the local density of states become minimum at the skyrmion position. Our results will be a basis of future skyrmion electronics.