Current-Induced Helicity Reversal of a Single Skyrmionic Bubble Chain in a Nanostructured Frustrated Magnet.

Hou, Zhipeng; Zhang, Qiang; Zhang, Xichao; Xu, Guizhou; Xia, Jing; Ding, Bei; Li, Hang; Zhang, Senfu et al. · Adv Mater · 2020

basic_science · Level V

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Abstract

Helicity indicates the in-plane magnetic-moment swirling direction of a skyrmionic configuration. The ability to reverse the helicity of a skyrmionic bubble via purely electrical means has been predicted in frustrated magnetic systems; however, it has been challenging to observe this experimentally. The current-driven helicity reversal of the skyrmionic bubble in a nanostructured frustrated Fe<sub>3</sub> Sn<sub>2</sub> magnet is experimentally demonstrated. The critical current density required to trigger the helicity reversal is 10<sup>9</sup> -10<sup>10</sup> A m<sup>-2</sup> , with a corresponding pulse-width varying from 1 µs to 100 ns. Computational simulations reveal that both the pinning effect and dipole-dipole interaction play a crucial role in the helicity reversal process.