Isolated zero field sub-10 nm skyrmions in ultrathin Co films

Sebastian Meyer, Marco Perini, Stephan von Malottki, André Kubetzka, Roland Wiesendanger, Kirsten von Bergmann () and Stefan Heinze
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Sebastian Meyer: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
Marco Perini: University of Hamburg
Stephan von Malottki: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel
André Kubetzka: University of Hamburg
Roland Wiesendanger: University of Hamburg
Kirsten von Bergmann: University of Hamburg
Stefan Heinze: Christian-Albrechts-Universität zu Kiel

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-8

Abstract: Abstract Due to their exceptional topological and dynamical properties magnetic skyrmions—localized stable spin structures—show great promise for spintronic applications. To become technologically competitive, isolated skyrmions with diameters below 10 nm stable at zero magnetic field and at room temperature are desired. Despite finding skyrmions in a wide spectrum of materials, the quest for a material with these envisioned properties is ongoing. Here we report zero field isolated skyrmions at T = 4 K with diameters below 5 nm observed in the virgin ferromagnetic state coexisting with 1 nm thin domain walls in Rh/Co atomic bilayers on Ir(111). These spin structures are investigated by spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy and can also be detected using non-spin-polarized tips via the noncollinear magnetoresistance. We demonstrate that sub-10 nm skyrmions are stabilized in these ferromagnetic Co films at zero field due to strong frustration of exchange interaction, together with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction and large magnetocrystalline anisotropy.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-11831-4

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