Scanning for skyrmions: Scientists directly image skyrmion cluster state transitions in iron-germanium nanodisks
Magnetic skyrmions, or noncoplanar swirling spin textures, are particle-like spin configurations with an integer topological charge that promise faster, denser memory storage. The hurdle to overcome in creating such devices is being able to understand single skyrmions in patterned nanoelements – but despite theoretical progress, real-world experimental studies of these entities have remained elusive. Recently, however, scientists at Chinese Academy of Science, Hefei, Fudan University, Shanghai, Nanjing University, Nanjing, and University of New Hampshire, Durham have demonstrated the direct visualization of skyrmion cluster states having different geometrical configurations in iron-germanium nanodisks. (Iron-germanium, or FeGe, is a complex alloy whose magnetic properties can vary considerably at nanoscale dimensions.) The researchers conclude that their results have an immediate implication for designing future skyrmion-based devices.