Edge states and skyrmion dynamics in nanostripes of frustrated magnets

• Published in: Nature communications 2017-02, Vol.8 (1), p.14394-14394, Article 14394
• Main Authors: Leonov, A. O., Mostovoy, M.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: 639/301/119/997; 639/766/119/1001; Anisotropy; Crystal lattices; Electric currents; Electrons; Humanities and Social Sciences; Information storage; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary)
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14394

Magnetic skyrmions are particle-like topological excitations recently discovered in chiral magnets. Their small size, topological protection and the ease with which they can be manipulated by electric currents generated much interest in using skyrmions for information storage and processing. Recently, it was suggested that skyrmions with additional degrees of freedom can exist in magnetically frustrated materials. Here, we show that dynamics of skyrmions and antiskyrmions in nanostripes of frustrated magnets is strongly affected by complex spin states formed at the stripe edges. These states create multiple edge channels which guide the skyrmion motion. Non-trivial topology of edge states gives rise to complex current-induced dynamics, such as emission of skyrmion–antiskyrmion pairs. The edge-state topology can be controlled with an electric current through the exchange of skyrmions and antiskyrmions between the edges of a magnetic nanostructure. The interaction between electric currents and magnetic textures in frustrated magnetic materials leads to rich nonlinear dynamics. Here, the authors show how currents can be used to control topology of edge states in nanostripes by inducing the emission and absorption of skyrmions.