Anatomy of Skyrmionic Textures in Magnetic Multilayers

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Magnetic skyrmions are promising information carriers for spintronic applications.
• Understanding skyrmion stabilization mechanisms in magnetic multilayers is crucial.
• Detailed real-space spin configuration determination is essential for this understanding.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the spin textures of skyrmions in [Ta/CoFeB/MgO] multilayers.
• To gain insight into the stabilization mechanisms of room-temperature magnetic skyrmions.
• To explore the 3D structure of skyrmions.

Main Methods:

• Utilized two advanced X-ray techniques based on magnetic circular dichroism.
• Employed ptychography for high-resolution (10 nm) 2D out-of-plane spin profile determination.
• Applied resonant elastic X-ray scattering to analyze depth-dependent chirality evolution.

Main Results:

• Determined the 2D out-of-plane spin profile of skyrmions with 10 nm resolution.
• Demonstrated depth-dependent chirality evolution, indicating a complex 3D skyrmion structure.
• Confirmed theoretical predictions on the role of dipole-dipole interactions and magnetic fields in skyrmion stabilization.

Conclusions:

• The study reveals skyrmions in [Ta/CoFeB/MgO] multilayers possess a complex 3D structure.
• Dipole-dipole interactions and external magnetic fields are critical for stabilizing sub-100 nm skyrmions.
• The combined X-ray approach enables precise engineering of skyrmion heterostructures for spintronic applications.