Emergence of zero-field non-synthetic single and interchained antiferromagnetic skyrmions in thin films

Antiferromagnetic (AFM) skyrmions are envisioned as ideal localized topological magnetic bits in future information technologies. In contrast to ferromagnetic (FM) skyrmions, they are immune to the skyrmion Hall effect, might offer potential terahertz dynamics while being insensitive to external mag...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Nature communications 2022-11, Vol.13 (1), p.7369-7369, Article 7369
Main Authors: Aldarawsheh, Amal, Fernandes, Imara Lima, Brinker, Sascha, Sallermann, Moritz, Abusaa, Muayad, Blügel, Stefan, Lounis, Samir
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
639/766/119/1001
639/766/119/997
Antiferromagnetism
Bilayers
Chains
Chromium
Ferromagnetism
First principles
Hall effect
Humanities and Social Sciences
Hypothetical particles
Magnetic fields
Magnetism
multidisciplinary
Particle theory
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Solitary waves
Spintronics
Substrates
Thin films
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Summary:Antiferromagnetic (AFM) skyrmions are envisioned as ideal localized topological magnetic bits in future information technologies. In contrast to ferromagnetic (FM) skyrmions, they are immune to the skyrmion Hall effect, might offer potential terahertz dynamics while being insensitive to external magnetic fields and dipolar interactions. Although observed in synthetic AFM structures and as complex meronic textures in intrinsic AFM bulk materials, their realization in non-synthetic AFM films, of crucial importance in racetrack concepts, has been elusive. Here, we unveil their presence in a row-wise AFM Cr film deposited on PdFe bilayer grown on fcc Ir(111) surface. Using first principles, we demonstrate the emergence of single and strikingly interpenetrating chains of AFM skyrmions, which can co-exist with the rich inhomogeneous exchange field, including that of FM skyrmions, hosted by PdFe. Besides the identification of an ideal platform of materials for intrinsic AFM skyrmions, we anticipate the uncovered knotted solitons to be promising building blocks in AFM spintronics. An intrinsic antiferromagnetic skyrmion is located entirely within a single atomic layer, rather than two coupled layers. Here, the authors predict the existence of intrinsic antiferromagnetic skyrmions in a chromium monolayer deposited on a PdFe/Ir(111) substrate, which can form interlinked chain structures.
ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-022-35102-x