Abstract
Skyrmions have received considerable attention in various studies since the experimental observation in magnetic materials in 2009. Skyrmions, which are topological, particle-like localized structures, show significant fundamental research value in the field of physics and materials and are also regarded as novel information carriers that have the potential for use in developing high-density, low-power, and multi-functional spintronic devices. In this Perspective, we first overview the development, structure, and materials of skyrmions. Subsequently, we focus on the recent progress in skyrmion devices for memory and logic applications and discuss their challenges and prospects.
Highlights
In 1962, the British scientist Tony Skyrme proposed a model in nuclear physics to develop a nonlinear field theory for interacting pions and introduced the concept of skyrmions to describe localized, particle-like configurations in the fields of pions.1 Skyrmions had been named after him
By constructing artificial notches at the track edge,65 skyrmions are confined in the regions between notches, and they can bypass the notches simultaneously when subjected to the driving current pulse during the shifting process
The magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) is a sandwich structure composed of a magnetic free layer (FL), barrier layer (BL), and magnetic pinning layer (PL)
Summary
In 1962, the British scientist Tony Skyrme proposed a model in nuclear physics to develop a nonlinear field theory for interacting pions and introduced the concept of skyrmions to describe localized, particle-like configurations in the fields of pions. Skyrmions had been named after him. Magnetic skyrmions are nanosized noncollinear spin structures with particle-like topological states.. Magnetic skyrmions are nanosized noncollinear spin structures with particle-like topological states.11–17 Their main characteristics and potential advantages include (1) particle-like states, which have the ultimate size as small as a few nanometers and can move with a low depinning current density (as small as ∼106 A/m2 for the skyrmion lattice19,20), and (2) nontrivial spin structures, enabling the magnetic skyrmions to develop novel spintronics. Magnetic skyrmions are regarded as small and energy-efficient information cells that have the potential to develop high-density, low-power, and multi-functional devices for memory and logic applications. In this Perspective, we first briefly introduce the skyrmion structure and materials and concentrate on skyrmion devices for memory and logic applications. The major challenges and prospects are presented for the implementation of skyrmion-based next-generation devices
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