Bottom: Magnetic x-ray microscopy images and schematic drawing of target skyrmions with rotations up to 4π of the out-of-plane magnetization component. The scale bar is 1µm.
Scientific Achievement
Experimental demonstration of target skyrmion spin structures with rotations up to 4π of the out-of-plane magnetization component.
Significance and Impact
Target skyrmions are potential precursors to hopfions, which are complex topologically protected structures exhibiting spin frustration in all three dimensions.
Research Details
- Magnetic coupling of a 1µm diameter 30nm thin permalloy (Fe80Ni20) nanodisk to an asymmetric (Ir 1 nm/Co 1.5 nm/Pt 1 nm) × 7 magnetic multilayer modified the local spin textures.
- Element-specific, high resolution magnetic x-ray microscopy at the Fe and Co L x-ray absorption allowed to distinguish the spin textures in the disk and the underlying magnetic multilayer, respectively.
