Controlling long-range skyrmion lattices using field and temperature in Fe/Gd multilayers

ORAL

Abstract

Ordered magnetic skyrmion lattices presents a playground of new and interesting physics to explore. This opportunity is provided by the topological nature of the skyrmion. We have recently fabricated thin-films of amorphous Fe and Gd multilayers that support skyrmions and skyrmion lattices at room temperature and zero applied magnetic field. These skyrmions are stabilized by dipolar interactions, rather than the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI). By varying the film thickness and alloy composition we can alter the dipole interactions relative to the exchange and anisotropy and thus control the skyrmion size, pitch, and stability. Using small angle neutron scattering (SANS), we demonstrated that once formed these dipole skyrmions are stable over a large field and temperature range including zero field and room temperature. We observe temperature and field dependent changes in the scattering vector (Q) for peak scattering related to the skyrmion lattice spacing. The origin of this change has led us to identify a key requirement necessary for the range of stability that we have observed in these amorphous thin films.

*Work at UCSD supported by DOE award No. DE-SC0003678. Neutron work was done at HFIR at ORNL supported by DOE BES and NCNR at NIST supported by DOC.

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Presenters

  • Lisa DeBeer-Schmitt

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
    • Neutron Scattering Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Lab
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA

Authors

  • Lisa DeBeer-Schmitt

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, TN 37831, USA
    • Neutron Scattering Science Division, Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Lab
    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Oak Ridge, USA

  • Ryan Desautels

    • Oak Ridge National Lab
    • Seagate Technology

  • Nan Tang

    • Material Science Depeartment, University of Tennessee
    • The Institute for Solid State Physics, The University of Tokyo

  • Sergio Montoya

    • CMRR, University of California San Diego

  • W L. N. C. Liyanage

    • Material Science Depeartment, University of Tennessee

  • Sheena Patel

    • University of California, San Diego
    • Physics, University of California San Diego

  • Michael Fitzsimmons

    • Oak Ridge National Laboratory
    • Oak Ridge National Lab

  • Eric Fullerton

    • University of California, San Diego
    • Center for Magnetic Recording Research, University of California at San Diego
    • Center for Memory and Recording Research, University of California, San Diego
    • CMRR, University of California San Diego
    • Center for Memory and Recording research, UCSD

  • Julie Ann Borchers

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research
    • National Institute of Standards and Technology
    • NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute of Standards and Technology

  • Dustin Gilbert

    • National Institute of Standards and Technology Center for Neutron Research
    • Material Science Depeartment, University of Tennessee
    • University of Tennessee