Magnetic Bloch-point hopping in multilayer skyrmions and associated emergent electromagnetic signatures

TL;DR

This paper theoretically explores how skyrmions in magnetic multilayers annihilate via Bloch-point hopping, revealing associated emergent electric fields and topological Hall response modulations relevant for spintronics.

Contribution

It introduces a new understanding of skyrmion annihilation through Bloch-point dynamics and their electromagnetic signatures in multilayer systems.

Findings

Bloch-point hopping mediates skyrmion annihilation.

Emergent electric fields are generated by Bloch-point propagation.

Topological Hall response is modulated by Bloch-point dynamics.

Abstract

Magnetic multilayers are promising tuneable systems for hosting magnetic skyrmions at/above room temperature. Revealing their intriguing switching mechanisms and associated inherent electrical responses are prerequisites for developing skyrmionic devices. In this work, we theoretically demonstrate the annihilation of single skyrmions occurring through a multilayer structure, which is mediated by hopping dynamics of topological hedgehog singularities known as Bloch points. The emerging intralayer dynamics of Bloch points are dominated by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, and their propagation can give rise to solenoidal emergent electric fields in the vicinity. Moreover, as the topology of spin textures can dominate their emergent magnetic properties, we show that the Bloch-point hopping through the multilayer will modulate the associated topological Hall response, with the magnitude proportional to the effective topological charge. We also investigate the thermodynamic stability of these states regarding the layer-dependent magnetic properties. This study casts light on the emergent electromagnetic signatures of skyrmion-based spintronics, rooted in magnetic-multilayer systems.