Deterministic creation and deletion of a single magnetic skyrmion observed by direct time-resolved X-ray microscopy

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates the deterministic creation and deletion of single magnetic skyrmions at room temperature using current pulses, observed through time-resolved X-ray microscopy, advancing skyrmion-based memory technology.

Contribution

It presents the first controlled, deterministic writing and deleting of individual skyrmions at room temperature in ferrimagnetic films using current pulses and direct nanoscale imaging.

Findings

Successful deterministic skyrmion writing and deletion at room temperature.

Identification of current pulse profiles for efficient skyrmion control.

Micromagnetic simulations reveal microscopic mechanisms of topological fluctuations.

Abstract

Spintronic devices based on magnetic skyrmions are a promising candidate for next-generation memory applications due to their nanometre-size, topologically-protected stability and efficient current-driven dynamics. Since the recent discovery of room-temperature magnetic skyrmions, there have been reports of current-driven skyrmion displacement on magnetic tracks and demonstrations of current pulse-driven skyrmion generation. However, the controlled annihilation of a single skyrmion at room temperature has remained elusive. Here we demonstrate the deterministic writing and deleting of single isolated skyrmions at room temperature in ferrimagnetic GdFeCo films with a device-compatible stripline geometry. The process is driven by the application of current pulses, which induce spin-orbit torques, and is directly observed using a time resolved nanoscale X-ray imaging technique. We provide a current-pulse profile for the efficient and deterministic writing and deleting process. Using micromagnetic simulations, we also reveal the microscopic mechanism of the topological fluctuations that occur during this process.