Published in

Nature Research, Nature Nanotechnology, 2(9), p. 156-156, 2014

DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2014.1

Nature Research, Nature Nanotechnology, 10(8), p. 742-747, 2013

DOI: 10.1038/nnano.2013.176

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Current-induced skyrmion dynamics in constricted geometries

Journal article published in 2013 by Junichi Iwasaki ORCID, Masahito Mochizuki, Naoto Nagaosa
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.
This paper is made freely available by the publisher.

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Abstract

Magnetic skyrmions-vortex-like swirling spin structures with a quantized topological number that are observed in chiral magnets-are appealing for potential applications in spintronics because it is possible to control their motion with ultralow current density. To realize skyrmion-based spintronic devices, it is essential to understand skyrmion motions in confined geometries. Here we show by micromagnetic simulations that the current-induced motion of skyrmions in the presence of geometrical boundaries is very different from that in an infinite plane. In a channel of finite width, transverse confinement results in steady-state characteristics of the skyrmion velocity as a function of current that are similar to those of domain walls in ferromagnets, whereas the transient behaviour depends on the initial distance of the skyrmion from the boundary. Furthermore, we show that a single skyrmion can be created by an electric current in a simple constricted geometry comprising a plate-shaped specimen of suitable size and geometry. These findings could guide the design of skyrmion-based devices in which skyrmions are used as information carriers.