Detection and Manipulation of Magnetic Skyrmion Domains in Silicide and Germanide Nanowires for Spintronic Applications

用于自旋电子学应用的硅化物和锗化物纳米线中磁斯格明子域的检测和操纵

• 批准号: 1231916
• 负责人: Song Jin
• 金额: $ 28.88万
• 依托单位: University of Wisconsin-Madison
• 依托单位国家: 美国
• 项目类别: Standard Grant
• 财政年份: 2012
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2012-09-01 至 2015-08-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1231916&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Detection; Manipulation; Magnetic; Skyrmion; Domains; Detection; Manipulation; Magnetic; Skyrmion; Domains

This project seeks to utilize chiral magnetic Skyrmion domains in nanowires of silicides and germanides for magnetic data storage applications. Skyrmions are a novel type of exotic magnetic ordering in which electron spins orient to form a topologically non-trivial whirlpool-like structure. They were recently discovered in non-centrosymmetric B20 monosilicides (MnSi, Fe1-xCoxSi) or monogermanide (FeGe). Skyrmions can be thought of as magnetic knots, quasi-particle-like domains that are stable to small perturbations in magnetic field and temperature and do not pin strongly to the crystal lattice or impurities. Skyrmions strongly couple to electrical currents due to the spin torque interaction therefore much lower critical current density is needed to drive the motion of Skyrmion domains. Skyrmions present novel opportunities for implementing spintronic and magnetic storage device designs. Furthermore, nanowires present an ideal system to realize, detect, and manipulate isolated chiral magnetic Skyrmions in the absence of an applied magnetic field due to the stabilization of the Skyrmion phase in confined one-dimensional geometry. Building on their progress in the growth of metal silicide and germanide nanowires and the expertise in spintronic device investigations using nanowire building blocks,PI plan to observe, measure, and manipulate chiral Skyrmions in nanowires of non-centrosymmetric B20 silicides, such as Fe1-xCoxSi and MnSi. Specifically, through an international collaboration with the University of Tokyo, Lorentz transmission electron microscopy will be used to visualize Skyrmions in these nanowires. Furthermore, topological Hall effect due to Skyrmions will be electrically measured in nanowires. Finally, the emergent dynamics of Skyrmions and their motions will be investigated in nanowire electrical devices. The intellectual merit: This research project presents the first opportunity for observing and electrically detecting Skyrmion motion by integrating existing nanowire materials with careful device and physical studies. Nanowire geometry has several advantages over thin film and bulk samples and is better suited for demonstrating such novel phenomenon therefore nanowires can serve as a model material platform that takes the study of Skyrmions from the fundamental physics and to more applied device work and eventual applications. Due to their unique and superior properties, Skyrmions have advantages over the conventional domain walls in metallic ferromagnets. The realization and electrical detection of ground state isolated Skyrmions in nanowires would demonstrate the proof-of-concept for utilizing Skyrmions for magnetic storage. The broader impact of the project includes that the success of the project will open up new design concepts for magnetic memory and spintronic devices with low-power, enhanced performance, and mass data storage, therefore bringing broad technological impacts. Education and outreach is closely integrated with active research in this project by recruiting underrepresented undergraduate students to participate in nanotechnology research in spintronic materials and devices, and by further developing a nanotechnology workshop for high school students and teachers. Used computer hard drives and integrated circuit chips will be examined during the workshop to allow students to learn basic concepts in spintronics and nanoelectrics and how they connect to digital gadgets, encouraging their interest in science and engineering.

该项目旨在利用硅质和德国剂的纳米线中的手性磁性天际域用于磁性数据存储应用。天空是一种新型的外来磁有序，电子旋转形成拓扑非平凡的漩涡状结构。它们最近在非中心对称B20单硅酰基（MNSI，FE1-XCOXSI）或一元（FEGE）中发现。可以将天空视为磁结，准粒子样结构域，这些结构域稳定在磁场和温度下的小扰动中，并且不会在晶格或杂质上强烈固定。由于自旋扭矩相互作用，因此天空偏向电流，因此需要较低的临界电流密度来驱动天际域域的运动。 Skyrmions为实施自旋和磁性存储设备设计提供了新的机会。 此外，纳米线提出了一个理想的系统，可以在没有施加的磁场的情况下实现，检测和操纵孤立的手性磁性天空，这是由于在受约束的一维几何形状中稳定了Skyrmion相。 基于它们在金属硅和德国纳米线的生长方面的进步以及使用纳米线构建块进行旋转装置研究的专业知识，PI计划在非中性核酸中心对比的纳米线中观察，测量和操纵性手性天际，例如Fe1-XCoxsi和Mnsi和Mnsi和MnSi。具体而言，通过与东京大学的国际合作，洛伦兹传输电子显微镜将用于可视化这些纳米线中的天际。此外，由于纳米线的电气测量，由于天空产生的拓扑厅效应。最后，将在纳米线电气设备中研究天空及其动作的新兴动力。智力优点：该研究项目为观察和电气检测天际运动的第一个机会通过将现有的纳米线材料与仔细的设备和物理研究整合在一起。纳米线的几何形状比薄膜和散装样品具有多个优点，因此更适合于证明这种新现象，因此纳米线可以用作模型材料平台，该平台可以从基本物理学中研究Skyrmions，并使用设备的工作和最终应用。由于它们的独特和优越的特性，Skyrmions在金属铁磁体中的常规域壁上具有优势。纳米线中基态隔离天际的实现和电检测将证明利用天空用于磁性储存的概念证明。该项目的更广泛的影响包括该项目的成功将为具有低功率，增强性能和质量数据存储的磁性内存和自旋设备开辟新的设计概念，从而带来广泛的技术影响。教育和外展与该项目的积极研究紧密融合，招募了代表性不足的本科生参加自旋材料和设备的纳米技术研究，并进一步为高中生和教师开发纳米技术研讨会。在研讨会期间，将检查二手计算机硬盘驱动器和集成电路芯片，以使学生能够学习Spintronics和Nanoelectrics中的基本概念，以及他们如何与数字小工具建立联系，从而鼓励他们对科学和工程的兴趣。