Experimental Observation of Single Skyrmion Signatures in a Magnetic Tunnel Junction
Abstract
We have deterministically created a stable topological spin texture in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) by using pulsed or microwave currents. The spin texture is characterized by a field-dependent intermediate resistance state and a new magnetic resonance. Micromagnetic simulations show that the observations are consistent with the nucleation of a single skyrmion, facilitated by a spatially nonuniform stray field. The unique resonance spectrum is identified as the skyrmion breathing mode and a skyrmion diameter of 75 nm is estimated. This work shows the possibility to create skyrmions in MTJs without the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction and could lead to noninvasive, on-chip skyrmion measurement.
- Publication:
-
Physical Review Letters
- Pub Date:
- June 2019
- DOI:
- 10.1103/PhysRevLett.122.257201
- Bibcode:
- 2019PhRvL.122y7201P