Electrical detection of magnetic skyrmions by tunnelling non-collinear magnetoresistance.

Magnetic skyrmions are localized non-collinear spin textures with a high potential for future spintronic applications. Skyrmion phases have been discovered in a number of materials and a focus of current research is to prepare, detect and manipulate individual skyrmions for implementation in devices. The local experimental characterization of skyrmions has been performed by, for example, Lorentz microscopy or atomic-scale tunnel magnetoresistance measurements using spin-polarized scanning tunnelling microscopy. Here we report a drastic change of the differential tunnel conductance for magnetic skyrmions that arises from their non-collinearity: mixing between the spin channels locally alters the electronic structure, which makes a skyrmion electronically distinct from its ferromagnetic environment. We propose this tunnelling non-collinear magnetoresistance as a reliable all-electrical detection scheme for skyrmions with an easy implementation into device architectures.

Field-dependent size and shape of single magnetic Skyrmions.

The atomic-scale spin structure of individual isolated Skyrmions in an ultrathin film is investigated in real space by spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy. Their axial symmetry as well as their unique rotational sense is revealed by using both out-of-plane and in-plane sensitive tips. The size and shape of Skyrmions change as a function of the magnetic field. An analytical expression for the description of Skyrmions is proposed and applied to connect the experimental data to the original theoretical model describing chiral Skyrmions. Thereby, the relevant material parameters responsible for Skyrmion formation can be obtained.

Writing and deleting single magnetic skyrmions.

Topologically nontrivial spin textures have recently been investigated for spintronic applications. Here, we report on an ultrathin magnetic film in which individual skyrmions can be written and deleted in a controlled fashion with local spin-polarized currents from a scanning tunneling microscope. An external magnetic field is used to tune the energy landscape, and the temperature is adjusted to prevent thermally activated switching between topologically distinct states. Switching rate and direction can then be controlled by the parameters used for current injection. The creation and annihilation of individual magnetic skyrmions demonstrates the potential for topological charge in future information-storage concepts.