Skyrmion Hall effect revealed by direct time-resolved X-ray microscopy

Litzius K, Lemesh I, Krueger B, Bassirian P, Caretta L, Richter K, Buettner F, Sato K, Tretiakov OA, Foerster J, Reeve RM, Weigand M, Bykova L, Stoll H, Schuetz G, Beach GSD, Klaeui M (2017)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2017

Journal

Nature Physics Nature Research

Book Volume: 13

Pages Range: 170-175

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.1038/nphys4000

Abstract

Magnetic skyrmions are promising candidates for future spintronic applications such as skyrmion racetrack memories and logic devices. They exhibit exotic and complex dynamics governed by topology and are less influenced by defects, such as edge roughness, than conventionally used domain walls. In particular, their non-zero topological charge leads to a predicted 'skyrmion Hall effect', in which current-driven skyrmions acquire a transverse velocity component analogous to charged particles in the conventional Hall effect. Here, we use nanoscale pump-probe imaging to reveal the real-time dynamics of skyrmions driven by current-induced spin-orbit torques. We find that skyrmions move at a well-defined angle Θ SkH that can exceed 30° with respect to the current flow, but in contrast to conventional theoretical expectations, Θ SkH increases linearly with velocity up to at least 100 ms -1 . We qualitatively explain our observation based on internal mode excitations in combination with a field-like spin-orbit torque, showing that one must go beyond the usual rigid skyrmion description to understand the dynamics.

Involved external institutions

Johannes Gutenberg-Universität Mainz (JGU) DE Germany (DE) Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) US United States (USA) (US) Tohoku University JP Japan (JP) Max Planck Institute for Intelligent Systems (MPI-IS) / Max-Planck-Institut für Intelligente Systeme DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Litzius, K., Lemesh, I., Krueger, B., Bassirian, P., Caretta, L., Richter, K.,... Klaeui, M. (2017). Skyrmion Hall effect revealed by direct time-resolved X-ray microscopy. Nature Physics, 13(2), 170-175. https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys4000

MLA:

Litzius, Kai, et al. "Skyrmion Hall effect revealed by direct time-resolved X-ray microscopy." Nature Physics 13.2 (2017): 170-175.

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