Creation and Annihilation of Magnetic Skyrmions in Confined Geometry using Voltage Control of Magnetic Anisotropy

Abstract

Skyrmions are typically manipulated by driving them with an electrical current in a racetrack and have been proven to be advantageous, due to their high mobility, energy efficient drivability and potential in overcoming edge roughness-related pinning occurring in domain wall (DW)- based racetrack devices [1]-[3]. However, to have high density skyrmion based memory devices, it is essential to create and manipulate skyrmions in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). Previously, it has been shown with micromagnetic simulations that voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) can be used in perpendicular MTJs to create an intermediate skyrmion starting from a ferromagnetic up/down state and subsequently annihilating it to form a ferromagnetic down/up state [4] and thus energy efficient electrical field switching robust to defects and thermal noise can be achieved. Towards the experimental realization of this switching strategy, skyrmions have to be created and manipulated with VCMA in a confined geometry where the skyrmion lateral dimension equals the lateral dimension of a nanodot. However, so far creation and annihilation of fixed magnetic skyrmions using VCMA has only been experimentally observed through magnetic force microscopy (MFM) imaging in thin ferromagnetic films where the skyrmions are much smaller in lateral dimension compared to the thin films and the imaging was performed after withdrawal of the applied electric field (Fig.1) [5]. Here, we will study experimental creation and annihilation of skyrmions using VCMA in a confined geometry of <1μm lateral dimension with in-situ application of voltage while imaging. This will enable visualization of the skyrmion/ferromagnet state as a function of the applied electric field and the mechanism through which skyrmions can be manipulated with VCMA induced change in PMA in the presence of interactions with the boundary of the patterned nanodot. Fig. 2 shows an example of a nanostructure in which such experiments will be carried out.Acknowledgement: NSF grant CCF #1909030  Fig. 1. Magnetization state before application of any electric field (a) and after application of negative (b), positive (c) voltage pulse [5]  Fig. 2. Skyrmions to be studied in confined geometries