Controlled Formation of Skyrmion Bags
Abstract
AbstractTopologically non‐trivial magnetic solitons are complex spin textures with a distinct single‐particle nature. Although magnetic skyrmions, especially those with unity topological charge, have attracted substantial interest due to their potential applications, more complex topological textures remain largely theoretical. In this work, the stabilization of isolated higher‐order skyrmion bags beyond the prototypical π‐skyrmion in ferromagnetic thin films is experimentally demonstrate, which has posed considerable challenges to date. Specifically, controlled generation of skyrmionium (2π‐skyrmion), target skyrmion (3π‐skyrmion), and skyrmion bags (with variable topological charge) are achieved through the introduction of artificially engineered anisotropy defects via local ion irradiation. They act as preferential sites for the field‐ or laser‐induced nucleation of skyrmion bags. Remarkably, ultrafast laser pulses achieve a substantially higher conversion rate transforming skyrmions into higher‐order skyrmion bags compared to their formation driven by magnetic fields. High‐resolution x‐ray imaging enables direct observation of the resulting skyrmion bags. Complementary micromagnetic simulations reveal the pivotal role of defect geometry–particularly diameter–in stabilizing closed‐loop domain textures. The findings not only broaden the experimental horizon for skyrmion research, but also suggest strategies for exploiting complex topological spin textures within a unified material platform for practical applications.
Article Details
Authors (21)
Lisa‐Marie Kern
Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy 12489 Berlin Germany
Vladyslav M. Kuchkin
Department of Physics and Materials Science University of Luxembourg Luxembourg L‐1511 Luxembourg
Victor Deinhart
Ferdinand‐Braun‐Institut (FBH) 12489 Berlin Germany
Christopher Klose
Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy 12489 Berlin Germany
Themistoklis Sidiropoulos
Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy 12489 Berlin Germany
Maike Auer
Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy 12489 Berlin Germany
Simon Gaebel
Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy 12489 Berlin Germany
Kathinka Gerlinger
Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy 12489 Berlin Germany
Riccardo Battistelli
Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH 14109 Berlin Germany
Steffen Wittrock
Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH 14109 Berlin Germany
Tamer Karaman
Experimental Physics V Center for Electronic Correlations and Magnetism University of Augsburg 86159 Augsburg Germany
Michael Schneider
Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Hospital Erlangen
Christian M. Günther
Technische Universität Berlin Zentraleinrichtung Elektronenmikroskopie 10623 Berlin Germany
Dieter Engel
Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy 12489 Berlin Germany
Ingo Will
Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy 12489 Berlin Germany
Sebastian Wintz
Markus Weigand
Felix Büttner
Helmholtz‐Zentrum Berlin für Materialien und Energie GmbH 14109 Berlin Germany
Katja Höflich
Ferdinand‐Braun‐Institut (FBH) 12489 Berlin Germany
Stefan Eisebitt
Bastian Pfau
Max Born Institute for Nonlinear Optics and Short Pulse Spectroscopy 12489 Berlin Germany