Non-equilibrium heating path for utrafast laser-induced nucleation of skyrmion lattices

TL;DR

This study demonstrates that ultrafast laser pulses can induce stable skyrmion lattices in ferromagnetic materials through a non-equilibrium heating process, with potential applications in information technology.

Contribution

It introduces a novel non-equilibrium heating pathway for skyrmion nucleation using ultrafast laser excitation, expanding control over skyrmion formation at room temperature.

Findings

Ultrafast laser pulses can generate stable skyrmion lattices at room temperature.

The nucleation process can be controlled by laser parameters and magnetic fields.

The study provides insights into non-equilibrium skyrmion dynamics.

Abstract

We explore the helicity-independent light-induced nucleation of skyrmion lattices in ferromagnetic cobalt-based trilayers with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Using Atomistic Spin Dynamics simulations, we show that a high temperature excitation followed by magnon drops and their non-equilibrium relaxation, accessed by an ultrafast laser excitation with specific duration and intensity, can lead to the generation of a skyrmion lattice stable at room temperature. The nucleation window, the topological density and the skyrmion polarity can be additionally manipulated by external magnetic fields. Our results provide insight into the non-equilibrium nature of skyrmionic excitations at non-zero temperatures and pave additional routes for their use in information technologies.