# Individual skyrmion manipulation by local magnetic field gradients

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a novel, precise method for manipulating individual magnetic skyrmions using local magnetic field gradients from an MFM probe, avoiding current-induced heating and enabling better control.

## Contribution

The study demonstrates a new approach to control single skyrmions with magnetic field gradients, providing a current-free alternative for skyrmion manipulation.

## Key findings

- Skyrmions can be manipulated individually with high precision using an MFM probe.
- The MFM probe's stray field can assist in skyrmion nucleation.
- The method offers a new paradigm for skyrmion control without electrical currents.

## Abstract

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures, stabilised in systems with strong Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). Several studies have shown that electrical currents can move skyrmions efficiently through spin-orbit torques. While promising for technological applications, current-driven skyrmion motion is intrinsically collective and accompanied by undesired heating effects. Here we demonstrate a new approach to control individual skyrmion positions precisely, which relies on the magnetic interaction between sample and a magnetic force microscopy (MFM) probe. We investigate perpendicularly magnetised X/CoFeB/MgO multilayers, where for X = W or Pt the DMI is sufficiently strong to allow for skyrmion nucleation in an applied field. We show that these skyrmions can be manipulated individually through the local field gradient generated by the scanning MFM probe with an unprecedented level of accuracy. Furthermore, we show that the probe stray field can assist skyrmion nucleation. Our proof-of-concepts results offer current-free paradigms to efficient individual skyrmion control.