Creation, Detection, and Manipulation of Isolated Magnetic Skyrmions in Nanowires for Magnetic Storage Applications

用于磁存储应用的纳米线中孤立的磁性斯格明子的创建、检测和操作

• 批准号: 1609585
• 负责人: Song Jin
• 金额: $ 36万
• 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: 2016
• 资助国家: 美国
• 起止时间: 2016-06-01 至 2020-05-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nsf.gov/awardsearch/showAward?AWD_ID=1609585&HistoricalAwards=false
• 关键词: Creation; Detection; Manipulation; Isolated; Magnetic

This project seeks to study isolated magnetic skyrmions in nanowires of non-centrosymmetric metal silicides and germanides for magnetic data storage applications. Skyrmions are a novel magnetic ordering configuration in which electron's spins are arranged in whirlpool-like structures. They hold promise for next-generation magnetic information storage because of their nanoscale dimensions that can enable high information storage density and ability for ultralow energy consumption. Nanowires are ideal hosts for skyrmions since they not only serve as a natural platform for magnetic devices but can also potentially stabilize skyrmions. In preliminary results, the PI's group has shown enhanced stability, electrical detection, and current-driven dynamics of skyrmions in silicides and germanides nanowires, and proposes to fabricate novel device to create, manipulate, and detect isolated magnetic skyrmions in nanowires. The success of these studies will demonstrate the feasibility for skyrmion-based magnetic memory devices and open up new design concepts for developing novel spintronic devices with low-power consumption and enhanced performance, and therefore bring broad technological impacts. Underrepresented undergraduate students will be recruited to participate in nanotechnology research. Exhibit and hands-on activities on nanotechnology will be developed and conducted at the annual Wisconsin Engineering Expo and at the Madison Science Museum to stimulate public's curiosity and interest in science and engineering. This project seeks to utilize isolated magnetic skyrmions in nanowires of non-centrosymmetric B20 silicides and germanides for magnetic data storage applications. Skyrmions are a novel type of exotic magnetic ordering in which electron's spins are arranged in whirlpool-like structures. Due to the topologically non-trivial spin vortex arrangement, skyrmions can be thought as free particle-like isolated magnetic domains (i.e. skyrmions outside of the skyrmion lattice) that are stable against small perturbations in magnetic field and temperature and do not pin strongly to the crystal lattice or impurities. A much lower critical current density is needed to drive the motion of skyrmions, therefore, they hold promise for next-generation magnetic storage, such as magnetic racetrack memory devices, because their nanoscale dimensions can enable high information storage density and their low threshold for current-driven motion can enable ultralow energy consumption. Skyrmions are superior over ferromagnetic domains for magnetic racetrack memory devices due to their stability and ease of manipulation with electrical current. Nanowires are ideal hosts for skyrmions since they not only serve as a natural platform for magnetic racetrack memory devices but can also potentially stabilize skyrmions. Based on the preliminary results on single-crystal nanowires of MnSi and other B20 silicides PI proposes novel device experiments to create, manipulate, and detect isolated magnetic skyrmions in nanowires by using Lorentz transmission microscopy, cantilever magnetometry, and Hall effect measurements to map the skyrmion phase diagrams in nanowires; using new magnetoresistance measurements to electrically detect confined skyrmions; nucleating isolated skyrmions using completely electrical means; and ultimately a potential demonstration of prototype skyrmion racetrack memory devices. This innovative and interdisciplinary project integrates the already developed nanowire materials with careful device studies to enable the first experimental demonstration of nucleation of skyrmions in nanowires and possible proof-of-concept magnetic racetrack memory devices based on skyrmions.

该项目旨在研究非中心对称金属硅化物和锗化物纳米线中的孤立磁性斯格明子，用于磁性数据存储应用。斯格明子是一种新颖的磁有序结构，其中电子自旋排列成漩涡状结构。它们有望成为下一代磁性信息存储，因为它们的纳米级尺寸可以实现高信息存储密度和超低能耗。纳米线是斯格明子的理想宿主，因为它们不仅可以作为磁性器件的天然平台，而且还可以稳定斯格明子。在初步结果中，PI的团队展示了硅化物和锗化物纳米线中斯格明子的稳定性、电检测和电流驱动动力学的增强，并提议制造新型装置来创建、操纵和检测纳米线中孤立的磁性斯格明子。这些研究的成功将证明基于斯格明子的磁存储器件的可行性，并为开发低功耗和增强性能的新型自旋电子器件开辟新的设计理念，从而带来广泛的技术影响。将招募代表性不足的本科生参与纳米技术研究。 年度威斯康星工程博览会和麦迪逊科学博物馆将举办和举办有关纳米技术的展览和实践活动，以激发公众对科学和工程的好奇心和兴趣。 该项目旨在利用非中心对称 B20 硅化物和锗化物纳米线中的孤立磁性斯格明子进行磁性数据存储应用。斯格明子是一种新型的奇异磁序，其中电子自旋排列成漩涡状结构。由于拓扑上非平凡的自旋涡流排列，斯格明子可以被认为是自由粒子状的孤立磁域（即斯格明子晶格之外的斯格明子），它们对于磁场和温度的小扰动是稳定的，并且不会强烈地固定在磁域上。晶格或杂质。驱动斯格明子运动所需的临界电流密度要低得多，因此，它们有望用于下一代磁存储，例如磁跑道存储设备，因为它们的纳米级尺寸可以实现高信息存储密度和低电流阈值驱动运动可以实现超低能耗。对于磁跑道存储器件来说，斯格明子优于铁磁域，因为它们的稳定性和易于电流操纵。纳米线是斯格明子的理想宿主，因为它们不仅可以作为磁性跑道存储设备的天然平台，而且还可以稳定斯格明子。基于 MnSi 和其他 B20 硅化物单晶纳米线的初步结果，PI 提出了新颖的设备实验，通过使用洛伦兹透射显微镜、悬臂磁力测量和霍尔效应测量来绘制斯格明子，以创建、操纵和检测纳米线中孤立的磁性斯格明子纳米线相图；使用新的磁阻测量来电检测受限斯格明子；使用完全电气手段使孤立的斯格明子成核；最终是斯格明子赛道存储设备原型的潜在演示。这一创新的跨学科项目将已开发的纳米线材料与仔细的器件研究相结合，首次实现了纳米线中斯格明子成核的实验演示，以及基于斯格明子的磁性跑道存储器件的概念验证。