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Stabilizing spin spirals and isolated skyrmions at low magnetic field exploiting vanishing magnetic anisotropy

Author

Listed:
  • Marie Hervé

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Bertrand Dupé

    (Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz
    University of Kiel)

  • Rafael Lopes

    (Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear)

  • Marie Böttcher

    (Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz)

  • Maximiliano D. Martins

    (Centro de Desenvolvimento da Tecnologia Nuclear)

  • Timofey Balashov

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Lukas Gerhard

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Jairo Sinova

    (Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz
    Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic)

  • Wulf Wulfhekel

    (Karlsruhe Institute of Technology
    Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

Abstract

Skyrmions are topologically protected non-collinear magnetic structures. Their stability is ideally suited to carry information in, e.g., racetrack memories. The success of such a memory critically depends on the ability to stabilize and manipulate skyrmions at low magnetic fields. The non-collinear Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction originating from spin-orbit coupling drives skyrmion formation. It competes with Heisenberg exchange and magnetic anisotropy favoring collinear states. Isolated skyrmions in ultra-thin films so far required magnetic fields as high as several Tesla. Here, we show that isolated skyrmions in a monolayer of Co/Ru(0001) can be stabilized down to vanishing fields. Even with the weak spin-orbit coupling of the 4d element Ru, homochiral spin spirals and isolated skyrmions were detected with spin-sensitive scanning tunneling microscopy. Density functional theory calculations explain the stability of the chiral magnetic features by the absence of magnetic anisotropy energy.

Suggested Citation

  • Marie Hervé & Bertrand Dupé & Rafael Lopes & Marie Böttcher & Maximiliano D. Martins & Timofey Balashov & Lukas Gerhard & Jairo Sinova & Wulf Wulfhekel, 2018. "Stabilizing spin spirals and isolated skyrmions at low magnetic field exploiting vanishing magnetic anisotropy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-03240-w
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-03240-w
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