Efficient skyrmion transport mediated by a voltage controlled magnetic anisotropy gradient

Despite the inefficiencies associated with current-induced spin torques, they remain the predominant mode of skyrmion propulsion. In this work, we demonstrate numerically that skyrmions can be transported much more efficiently with a voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) gradient. An analyti...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nanoscale 2018-01, Vol.1 (2), p.733-74
Main Authors: Wang, Xuan, Gan, W. L, Martinez, J. C, Tan, F. N, Jalil, M. B. A, Lew, W. S
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Anisotropy
Confining
Electric potential
Hypothetical particles
Magnetic anisotropy
Mathematical models
Packing density
Particle theory
Propulsion
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Despite the inefficiencies associated with current-induced spin torques, they remain the predominant mode of skyrmion propulsion. In this work, we demonstrate numerically that skyrmions can be transported much more efficiently with a voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) gradient. An analytical model was developed to understand the underlying skyrmion dynamics on a track under the VCMA conditions. Our calculations reveal that the repulsive skyrmion-edge interaction not only prevents the skyrmion from annihilating but also generates most of the skyrmion propulsion. A multiplexed array of gate electrodes can be used to create discrete anisotropy gradients over a long distance, leading to the formation of a series of translatable skyrmion potential wells. Due to the strong confining potentials, skyrmions are transported at a 70% higher packing density. Finally, we demonstrated that this form of skyrmion propulsion can also be implemented on almost any 2D geometry, providing improved versatility over current-induced methods. We demonstrate numerically that skyrmions can be transported efficiently with a voltage-controlled stepped magnetic anisotropy gradient.
ISSN:2040-3364
2040-3372
DOI:10.1039/c7nr06482a