Creation and annihilation of topological meron pairs in in-plane magnetized films

N. Gao, S. -G. Je, M. -Y. Im, J. W. Choi, M. Yang, Q. Li, T. Y. Wang, S. Lee, H. -S. Han, K. -S. Lee, W. Chao, C. Hwang, J. Li () and Z. Q. Qiu ()
Additional contact information
N. Gao: Institute of Microelectronics of Chinese Academy of Sciences
S. -G. Je: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
M. -Y. Im: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
J. W. Choi: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
M. Yang: University of California at Berkeley
Q. Li: University of California at Berkeley
T. Y. Wang: University of California at Berkeley
S. Lee: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
H. -S. Han: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
K. -S. Lee: Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology
W. Chao: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
C. Hwang: Korea Research Institute of Standards and Science, Yuseong
J. Li: Peking University
Z. Q. Qiu: University of California at Berkeley

Nature Communications, 2019, vol. 10, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Abstract Merons which are topologically equivalent to one-half of skyrmions can exist only in pairs or groups in two-dimensional (2D) ferromagnetic (FM) systems. The recent discovery of meron lattice in chiral magnet Co8Zn9Mn3 raises the immediate challenging question that whether a single meron pair, which is the most fundamental topological structure in any 2D meron systems, can be created and stabilized in a continuous FM film? Utilizing winding number conservation, we develop a new method to create and stabilize a single pair of merons in a continuous Py film by local vortex imprinting from a Co disk. By observing the created meron pair directly within a magnetic field, we determine its topological structure unambiguously and explore the topological effect in its creation and annihilation processes. Our work opens a pathway towards developing and controlling topological structures in general magnetic systems without the restriction of perpendicular anisotropy and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction.

Date: 2019
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13642-z

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