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Discrete Hall resistivity contribution from Néel skyrmions in multilayer nanodiscs

Nature Nanotechnology volume 13, pages 1161–1166 (2018)Cite this article

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Abstract

Magnetic skyrmions are knot-like quasiparticles. They are candidates for non-volatile data storage in which information is moved between fixed read and write terminals. The read-out operation of skyrmion-based spintronic devices will rely on the electrical detection of a single magnetic skyrmion within a nanostructure. Here we present Pt/Co/Ir nanodiscs that support skyrmions at room temperature. We measured the Hall resistivity and simultaneously imaged the spin texture using magnetic scanning transmission X-ray microscopy. The Hall resistivity is correlated to both the presence and size of the skyrmion. The size-dependent part matches the expected anomalous Hall signal when averaging the magnetization over the entire disc. We observed a resistivity contribution that only depends on the number and sign of skyrmion-like objects present in the disc. Each skyrmion gives rise to 22 ± 2 nΩ cm irrespective of its size. This contribution needs to be considered in all-electrical detection schemes applied to skyrmion-based devices. Not only the area of Néel skyrmions but also their number and sign contribute to their Hall resistivity.

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Fig. 1: Field evolution of the magnetic skyrmion.
Fig. 2: Multiple magnetic skyrmion creation.
Fig. 3: Hall resistance signals from a single skyrmion.

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Data availability

The data associated with this paper are openly available from the University of Leeds data repository, https://doi.org/10.5518/262.

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Acknowledgements

Support from European Union (H2020 grant MAGicSky no. FET-Open-665095.103 and FP7 ITN 'WALL' (grant no. 608031)), as well as from the Diamond Light Source and the Swiss Nanoscience Institute (grant P1502), is gratefully acknowledged. Part of this work was carried out at the PolLux (X07DA) and SIM (X11MA) beamline of the Swiss Light Source. The PolLux end station was financed by the German Minister für Bildung und Forschung through contracts 05KS4WE1/6 and 05KS7WE1.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Katharina Zeissler, Kowsar Shahbazi, Jamie Massey, Fatma Al Ma’Mari, Thomas A. Moore, Gavin Burnell & Christopher H. Marrows

  2. Swiss Light Source, Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen PSI, Switzerland

    Simone Finizio, David M. Bracher, Armin Kleibert & Jörg Raabe

  3. Department of Physics, Sultan Qaboos University, Muscat, Oman

    Fatma Al Ma’Mari

  4. School of Electronic and Electrical Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK

    Mark C. Rosamond & Edmund H. Linfield

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  1. Katharina Zeissler
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Contributions

C.H.M. with K.Z., S.F., J.R. and G.B. conceived the experiment. S.F. and J.R. developed the STXM to incorporate transport measurements. S.F., J.R. and G.B. set up the electrical measurement inside the STXM. K.Z., K.S., J.M., S.F. and G.B. acquired the STXM and associated transport data on the discs. K.Z., S.F. and G.B. analysed the STXM and electrical transport data. K.Z. and F.A.M. performed the Hall bar transport measurement. K.Z. grew the samples and characterized the material properties. S.F., A.K. and D.M.B. performed the X-ray photoemission electron microscopy experiments and analysis. K.Z. performed the magnetoresistance simulations. K.Z. and M.C.R., with support from E.H.L., fabricated the sample. K.Z. wrote the manuscript with G.B. and C.H.M. All the authors reviewed the manuscript.

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Correspondence to Katharina Zeissler.

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Supplementary information

Supplementary Information

Supplementary Figures 1–5

Supplementary Video 1

Magnetic contrast images of one skyrmion (N = 1) stabilized in the disc repeat 1

Supplementary Video 2

Magnetic contrast images of one skyrmion (N = 1) stabilized in the disc repeat 2

Supplementary Video 3

Magnetic contrast images of two skyrmions (N = 2) stabilized in the disc

Supplementary Video 4

Magnetic contrast images of two skyrmions (N = –2) stabilized in the disc

Supplementary Video 5

Magnetic contrast images of three skyrmions (N = 3) stabilized in the disc

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Zeissler, K., Finizio, S., Shahbazi, K. et al. Discrete Hall resistivity contribution from Néel skyrmions in multilayer nanodiscs. Nature Nanotech 13, 1161–1166 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41565-018-0268-y

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