Creation and observation of Hopfions in magnetic multilayer systems

Noah Kent (), Neal Reynolds, David Raftrey, Ian T. G. Campbell, Selven Virasawmy, Scott Dhuey, Rajesh V. Chopdekar, Aurelio Hierro-Rodriguez, Andrea Sorrentino, Eva Pereiro, Salvador Ferrer, Frances Hellman, Paul Sutcliffe and Peter Fischer ()
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Noah Kent: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Neal Reynolds: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
David Raftrey: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Ian T. G. Campbell: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Selven Virasawmy: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Scott Dhuey: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Rajesh V. Chopdekar: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Aurelio Hierro-Rodriguez: University of Oviedo
Andrea Sorrentino: ALBA Synchrotron
Eva Pereiro: ALBA Synchrotron
Salvador Ferrer: ALBA Synchrotron
Frances Hellman: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
Paul Sutcliffe: Durham University
Peter Fischer: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Nature Communications, 2021, vol. 12, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Among topological solitons, magnetic skyrmions are two-dimensional particle-like objects with a continuous winding of the magnetization, and magnetic Hopfions are three-dimensional objects that can be formed from a closed loop of twisted skyrmion strings. Theoretical models suggest that magnetic Hopfions can be stabilized in frustrated or chiral magnetic systems, and target skymions can be transformed into Hopfions by adapting their perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, but their experimental verification has been elusive so far. Here, we present an experimental study of magnetic Hopfions that are created in Ir/Co/Pt multilayers shaped into nanoscale disks, known to host target skyrmions. To characterize three-dimensional spin textures that distinguish Hopfions from target skyrmions magnetic images are recorded with surface-sensitive X-ray photoemission electron microscopy and bulk-sensitive soft X-ray transmission microscopy using element-specific X-ray magnetic circular dichroism effects as magnetic contrast. These results could stimulate further investigations of Hopfions and their potential application in three-dimensional spintronics devices.

Date: 2021
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-21846-5

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