Typical skyrmions versus bimerons: a long-distance competition in ferromagnetic racetracks

TL;DR

This paper compares the dynamics of skyrmions and bimerons in ferromagnetic racetracks, analyzing how factors like Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction influence their motion and stability over long distances.

Contribution

It introduces a comparative analysis of skyrmions and bimerons, including the effects of DMI, on their long-distance motion and stability in ferromagnetic racetracks.

Findings

DMI-skyrmions are more rigid and less capable of long-distance travel.

Bimerons can sustain longer distances before annihilation.

DMI influences the stability and motion of topological magnetic structures.

Abstract

During the last years, topologically protected collective modes of the magnetization have called much attention. Among these, skyrmions and merons have been the object of intense study. In particular, topological skyrmions are objects with an integer skyrmion number $Q$ while merons have a half-integer skyrmion charge $q$. In this work, we consider a $Q=1$ skyrmion, composed by a meron and an antimeron (bimeron), displacing in a ferromagnetic racetrack, disputing a long-distance competition with its more famous counterpart, the typical $Q=1$ cylindrically symmetrical skyrmion. Both types of topological structures induce a Magnus force and then are subject to the Hall effect. The influence of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction ($DMI$) present in certain materials and able to induces $DMI$-skyrmions is also analyzed. Our main aim is to compare the motions (induced by a spin-polarized current) of these objects along with their own specific racetracks. We also investigate some favorable factors which are able to give breath to the competitors, impelling them to remain in the race for longer distances before their annihilation at the racetrack lateral border. An interesting result is that the $DMI$-skyrmion loses this hypothetical race due to its larger rigidity.