Positional memory of skyrmions in magnetic bilayers

TL;DR

This paper investigates the transient dynamics and positional memory effects of magnetic skyrmions in synthetic antiferromagnetic bilayers under magnetic field gradients, revealing unique 'remembering' behavior and providing analytical models.

Contribution

It introduces a combined numerical and analytical study of skyrmion dynamics in bilayers, highlighting a novel positional memory effect under specific conditions.

Findings

Skyrmions move perpendicular to the magnetic field gradient.

Skyrmion displacement is proportional to the field gradient.

Skyrmions return to original positions after gradient removal under certain conditions.

Abstract

We numerically and analytically study the transient dynamics of magnetic skyrmions in synthetic antiferromagnets under a magnetic field gradient. We consider skyrmions in a bilayer with antiferromagnetic coupling between the layers. The skyrmions in the two layers move almost perpendicular to the field gradient and the motion is eventually halted with the two skyrmions at a distance from each other. We find that the skyrmion displacement is proportional to the field gradient, while the time it takes to reach their final position is almost independent of it. Below a critical magnetic field gradient strength, the system displays an unusual 'remembering' dynamics: when the magnetic field gradient is removed, the skyrmions return to their original positions to a high degree of accuracy. We explain this observation and other quantitative features using a moduli space dynamics approximation. We further provide an exact treatment of the dynamics that indicates that deviations from exact memory of the skyrmion position can arise.