1. Room-Temperature Magnetic Skyrmions in Pt/Co/Cu Multilayers
- Author
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Cheng, Shuyu, Bagués, Núria, Selcu, Camelia M., Freyermuth, Jacob B., Li, Ziling, Wang, Binbin, Das, Shekhar, Hammel, P. Chris, Randeria, Mohit, McComb, David W., and Kawakami, Roland K.
- Subjects
Condensed Matter - Materials Science ,Materials Science (cond-mat.mtrl-sci) ,FOS: Physical sciences ,Applied Physics (physics.app-ph) ,Physics - Applied Physics - Abstract
Magnetic skyrmions are promising for next-generation information storage and processing owing to their potential advantages in data storage density, robustness, and energy efficiency. The magnetic multilayers consisting of Pt, Co, and a third metal element $X$ provide an ideal platform to study the skyrmions due to their highly tunable magnetic properties. Here, we report the material parameters needed to achieve room-temperature skyrmions in epitaxial Pt/Co/Cu superlattices grown by molecular beam epitaxy. By tuning the Co thickness and the number of periods, the magnetic easy axis varies from perpendicular to in-plane, and skrymions are observed in the spin-reorientation transition. The magnetic properties of the Pt/Co/Cu samples are studied by magneto-optic Kerr effect (MOKE) and superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer measurements. Skyrmions are directly imaged by magnetic force microscopy (MFM) and Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM). The development of room-temperature skyrmions in Pt/Co/Cu multilayers may lead to advances in skyrmion-related research and applications., 19 pages, 11 Figures
- Published
- 2023