Dynamics of magnetic skyrmions driven by a temperature gradient in a chiral magnet FeGe

Abstract

We experimentally demonstrate the reversible motion of skyrmions driven by the controlled thermal fluctuations in a chiral magnet FeGe. A temperature gradient applied to the chiral magnet not only induces a flow of electrons but also excites a flow of magnons. Consequently, it is found that the skyrmion shows directional thermal diffusion toward two opposite directions along the gradient of temperature. We show that the skyrmions driven by the temperature gradient move from the cold terminal to the hot terminal due to the effect of magnon current induced by the temperature gradient. An obvious transverse shift of skyrmions is observed, which indicates the thermal-induced skyrmion Hall effect. Moreover, the thermal diffusion of skyrmions from the hot terminal to the cold terminal with a Hall motion as a result of competition of the magnon current, entropic force, and the spin-transfer torques induced by the thermally excited electron flow is also observed when the temperature at the hot terminal is high enough. Our results demonstrate an efficient manipulation of skyrmion dynamics by a controllable temperature gradient, which may provide a promising way for the realization of caloritronic applications based on topological spin textures.