1. Spin-orbit torque-driven skyrmion dynamics revealed by time-resolved X-ray microscopy
- Author
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Kun Soo Song, Min Seung Jung, Jung-Il Hong, Hyun Cheol Koo, Seonghoon Woo, Byoung-Chul Min, Joonyeon Chang, Jun Woo Choi, Hee-Sung Han, Peter Fischer, Ki-Suk Lee, Kyung Mee Song, and Mi Young Im
- Subjects
Science ,General Physics and Astronomy ,FOS: Physical sciences ,02 engineering and technology ,Magnetic skyrmion ,01 natural sciences ,General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology ,Article ,0103 physical sciences ,Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics (cond-mat.mes-hall) ,Torque ,010306 general physics ,Physics ,Condensed Matter - Materials Science ,Multidisciplinary ,Condensed matter physics ,Spintronics ,Condensed Matter - Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics ,Skyrmion ,Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) ,General Chemistry ,Nanosecond ,021001 nanoscience & nanotechnology ,Condensed Matter::Mesoscopic Systems and Quantum Hall Effect ,Quasiparticle ,0210 nano-technology ,Ultrashort pulse ,Excitation - Abstract
Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures with attractive properties suitable for high-density and low-power spintronic device applications. Much effort has been dedicated to understanding the dynamical behaviours of the magnetic skyrmions. However, experimental observation of the ultrafast dynamics of this chiral magnetic texture in real space, which is the hallmark of its quasiparticle nature, has so far remained elusive. Here, we report nanosecond-dynamics of a 100nm-diameter magnetic skyrmion during a current pulse application, using a time-resolved pump-probe soft X-ray imaging technique. We demonstrate that distinct dynamic excitation states of magnetic skyrmions, triggered by current-induced spin–orbit torques, can be reliably tuned by changing the magnitude of spin–orbit torques. Our findings show that the dynamics of magnetic skyrmions can be controlled by the spin–orbit torque on the nanosecond time scale, which points to exciting opportunities for ultrafast and novel skyrmionic applications in the future., Magnetic skyrmions are potentially suitable for future spintronic devices, but their dynamical behaviour in real space remains elusive. Here, Woo et al. report nanosecond-dynamics of a 100nm-size magnetic skyrmion triggered by current-induced spin-orbit torques.
- Published
- 2017
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