Strain-tuning Bloch- and N\'eel-type magnetic skyrmions: a phase-field simulation

TL;DR

This study uses phase-field modeling to demonstrate how uniaxial strain can deterministically control the orientation, configuration, and phase transitions of magnetic skyrmions and domains, advancing strain-based magnetic device design.

Contribution

It introduces a phase-field simulation approach to systematically analyze strain effects on Bloch- and Néel-type skyrmions and domains, revealing new control mechanisms.

Findings

Strain causes reorientation of stripe domains and skyrmions.

Uniaxial tensile strain induces a phase transition from skyrmions to multi-domains or single domains.

Competition between magnetic anisotropy and stray field energy drives continuous phase transitions.

Abstract

Strain manipulation of the magnetic domains, such as the stripe domains and skyrmions, has attracted considerable attention because of its potential applications for magnetic logic and memory devices. Here, utilizing phase-field modeling, we demonstrate the deterministic modulation of the orientation and the configuration of the stripe domains and skyrmions by using a uniaxial strain. The reorientation of the stripe domains can be caused by a suitable strain, and the direction of the reorientated domains is determined by the direction of the applied uniaxial strain and the type of domain walls, including Bloch- and N\'eel- types. Furthermore, by constructing a phase diagram, we discovered that when the uniaxial tensile strain increases, the ferromagnetic islands undergo a continuous phase transition from a skyrmion to multi-domains or a single domain. The competition between magnetic anisotropy energy and stray field energy leads to the continuous phase transition and the formation of domain patterns under the uniaxial tensile strain. Our research provides a theoretical foundation for the development of strain-controlled magnetic domain designs.