Blowing magnetic skyrmion bubbles

Wanjun Jiang, Pramey Upadhyaya, Wei Zhang, Guoqiang Yu, M. Benjamin Jungfleisch, Frank Y. Fradin, John E. Pearson, Yaroslav Tserkovnyak, Kang L. Wang, Olle Heinonen, Suzanne G.E. Te Velthuis, Axel Hoffmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

The formation of soap bubbles from thin films is accompanied by topological transitions. Here we show how a magnetic topological structure, a skyrmion bubble, can be generated in a solid-state system in a similar manner. Using an inhomogeneous in-plane current in a system with broken inversion symmetry, we experimentally "blow" magnetic skyrmion bubbles from a geometrical constriction. The presence of a spatially divergent spin-orbit torque gives rise to instabilities of the magnetic domain structures that are reminiscent of Rayleigh-Plateau instabilities in fluid flows.We determine a phase diagram for skyrmion formation and reveal the efficient manipulation of these dynamically created skyrmions, including depinning and motion.The demonstrated current-driven transformation fromstripe domains to magnetic skyrmion bubbles could lead to progress in skyrmion-based spintronics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)283-286
Number of pages4
JournalScience
Volume349
Issue number6245
DOIs
StatePublished - Jul 17 2015
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General

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