The evolution of skyrmion crystals encapsulates skyrmion's critical behaviors, such as nucleation, deformation, and annihilation. Here, we achieve a tunable evolution of artificial skyrmion crystals in nanostructured synthetic antiferromagnet multilayers, which are composed of perpendicular magnetic multilayers and nanopatterned arrays of magnetic nanodots. The out-of-plane magnetization hysteresis loops and first-order reversal curves show that the nucleation and annihilation of the artificial skyrmion can be controlled by tuning the diameter of and spacing between the nanodots. Moreover, when the bottom layer thickness increases, the annihilation of skyrmion shifts from evolving into a ferromagnetic spin texture to evolving into an antiferromagnetic spin texture. Most significantly, nonvolatile multiple states are realized at zero magnetic field via controlling the proportion of the annihilated skyrmions in the skyrmion crystal. Our results demonstrate the tunability and flexibility of the artificial skyrmion platform, providing a promising route to achieve skyrmion-based multistate devices, such as neuromorphic spintronic devices.
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Nano-engineering the evolution of skyrmion crystal in synthetic antiferromagnets
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June 2022
Research Article|
April 12 2022
Nano-engineering the evolution of skyrmion crystal in synthetic antiferromagnets
Mangyuan Ma;
Mangyuan Ma
1
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Opto‐Electronic Technology, Center for Quantum Transport and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics and Technology, Nanjing Normal University
, Nanjing 210046, China
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Ke Huang;
Ke Huang
2
Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
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Yong Li;
Yong Li
1
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Opto‐Electronic Technology, Center for Quantum Transport and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics and Technology, Nanjing Normal University
, Nanjing 210046, China
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Sihua Li;
Sihua Li
2
Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
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Qiyuan Feng;
Qiyuan Feng
3
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics at Extreme Conditions, High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Hefei 230031, China
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Calvin Ching Ian Ang
;
Calvin Ching Ian Ang
2
Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
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Tianli Jin;
Tianli Jin
2
Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
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Yalin Lu
;
Yalin Lu
3
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics at Extreme Conditions, High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Hefei 230031, China
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Qingyou Lu
;
Qingyou Lu
3
Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Condensed Matter Physics at Extreme Conditions, High Magnetic Field Laboratory, Chinese Academy of Sciences
, Hefei 230031, China
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Wen Siang Lew
;
Wen Siang Lew
a)
2
Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: phymafs@njnu.edu.cn; wensiang@ntu.edu.sg; and renshaw@ntu.edu.sg
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Fusheng Ma
;
Fusheng Ma
a)
1
Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Opto‐Electronic Technology, Center for Quantum Transport and Thermal Energy Science, School of Physics and Technology, Nanjing Normal University
, Nanjing 210046, China
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: phymafs@njnu.edu.cn; wensiang@ntu.edu.sg; and renshaw@ntu.edu.sg
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X. Renshaw Wang
X. Renshaw Wang
a)
2
Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University
, 21 Nanyang Link, Singapore 637371, Singapore
4
School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University
, 50 Nanyang Ave, Singapore 639798, Singapore
a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: phymafs@njnu.edu.cn; wensiang@ntu.edu.sg; and renshaw@ntu.edu.sg
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a)Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed: phymafs@njnu.edu.cn; wensiang@ntu.edu.sg; and renshaw@ntu.edu.sg
Appl. Phys. Rev. 9, 021404 (2022)
Article history
Received:
December 09 2021
Accepted:
March 29 2022
Citation
Mangyuan Ma, Ke Huang, Yong Li, Sihua Li, Qiyuan Feng, Calvin Ching Ian Ang, Tianli Jin, Yalin Lu, Qingyou Lu, Wen Siang Lew, Fusheng Ma, X. Renshaw Wang; Nano-engineering the evolution of skyrmion crystal in synthetic antiferromagnets. Appl. Phys. Rev. 1 June 2022; 9 (2): 021404. https://doi.org/10.1063/5.0081455
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