Real-space observations of 2D and 3D topological spin textures and their current-driven dynamics

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Real-space observations of 2D and 3D topological spin textures and their current-driven dynamics

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Author(s): Xiuzhen Yu ¹ ^, ² ^,

Publication date (Electronic): 21 January 2025

Conference name: 13th Asia Pacific Microscopy Congress 2025 (APMC13)

Conference date: 2-7 Febuary 2025

Keywords: in-situ Lorentz TEM, tomographic iDPC, nanometric spin textures

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Abstract

The (scanning) transmission electron microscopy (S(TEM)) is a useful tool for realizing nanometric topological spin textures, such as magnetic skyrmions. The skyrmion possesses a "topological invariant" known as the "winding number" [ 1]. Due to its topological characteristics, it can be driven by extremely low current densities (five orders of magnitude lower than that of domain walls) [ 2], making it highly anticipated for applications in next-generation energy-saving devices, high-capacity information storage media, and reservoir computing elements.

Skyrmions were proposed in the 1960s in nuclear physics as a model to ensure the particle nature of nucleons [ 3], and later their existence was predicted in condensed matter theory as a spatial structure (texture) formed by electron spin arrangements in magnetic materials [ 4]. Using Lorentz TEM under variable magnetic fields ( Figs. 1 A-1 B ), we experimentally demonstrated the chirality and topology of well-defined two-dimensional (2D) skyrmions [ 5]. Additionally, in-situ Lorentz TEM ( Figs. 1 C-1 D ) clarified ultra-low current-driven dynamics of skyrmions [ 6] and their antiparticles, known as antiskyrmions [ 7], and controlled topological transformations between skyrmion and antiskyrmion by magnetic fields.

In addition to the 2D topological spin textures observed in thin films by Lorentz TEM, the existence of particle-like topological spin textures was also predicted in three dimensions (3D). In samples with a certain thickness, (anti)skyrmions extend along the thickness direction of the sample, forming 3D (anti)skyrmion strings [ 8]. To visualize such 3D topological spin textures, we improved the high-resolution scalar/vector-field electron tomography technique, termed tomographic integrated differential-phase-contrast microscopy (iDPC, Fig. 1 E ), which enables the mapping of (anti) skyrmion strings composed of spin hedgehogs and antihedgehogs, revealing hybrid topological spin textures, including surface vortices and spin (anti) hedgehogs deep within the bulk [ 9].

Fig. 1.

Schematics of Lorentz TEM ( A, B), TEM sample holder with electrodes ( C), cross-section TEM showing TEM sample fixed on a Si-membrane with an electrical terminal ( D). E. Differential-phase-contrast microscopy. F. 2D (anti) skyrmion, 3D skyrmion strings and a hopfion.

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Publication date (Electronic): 21 January 2025

Electronic Location Identifier: e354

Affiliations

[1 ]RIKEN Center for Emergent Matter Science (CEMS), Wako 351-0198, Japan

[2 ]Institute of Science Tokyo, Tokyo 152-8550, Japan

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*Corresponding author: yu_x@ 123456riken.jp

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Xiuzhen Yu https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3136-7289

Article

DOI: 10.14293/APMC13-2025-0354

SO-VID: 7cfd5e31-d36a-4466-8199-5d1a67ff3e59

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Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International ( CC BY 4.0). Users are allowed to share (copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format) and adapt (remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially), as long as the authors and the publisher are explicitly identified and properly acknowledged as the original source.

Conference name: 13th Asia Pacific Microscopy Congress 2025

Conference acronym: APMC13

Conference number: 13

Conference location: Brisbane, Australia

Conference date: 2-7 Febuary 2025

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Funding

Funded by: Grants-In-Aid for Scientific Research

Award ID: 19H00660

Funded by: Japan Science and Technology Agency CREST program

Award ID: JPMJCR20T1

The author acknowledges Profs. Yoshinori Tokura, Naoto Nagaosa, Masashi Kawasaki, Taka-hisa Arima, Yusuke Tokunaga, Fumitaka Kagawa, Max Hirschberger, Naoya Kanazawa, Rina Takagi and Shinichro Seki, and Drs. Tasujiro Taguchi, Wataru Koshibae, Kosuke Karube, Jan Masell, Licong Peng, Fehmi Yasin, Khanh Nguyen, Daisuke Morikawa, Masao Nakamura, Kiyou Shibata, Nobuto Nakanishi, Yi-Ling Chiew, Yao Guang, Yizhou Liu, Koji Kimoto and Yoshio Matsui for collaborations on the present work. This work was supported in part by RIKEN TRIP program, by Grants-In-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant No. 19H00660) from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, and by the Japan Science and Technology Agency CREST program (Grant No. JPMJCR20T1), Japan.

References

N. Nagaosa and Y. Tokura, Nature Nanotechnology 8, 899 (2013).
X. Z. Yu, et al., Nature Communications 3, 988 (2012).
T. Skyrme, Nucl. Phys. 31, 556 (1962).
A. Bogdanov and A. Hubert, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 138, 255 (1994).
X. Z. Yu, et al., Nature 465, 901 (2010).
X.Z. Yu, et al., Sci. Adv. 6, eaaz9744 (2020).
L.C. Peng, et al., Nature Nanotechnology 15, 181(2020).
X.Z. Yu, et al., Nano Lett. 22, 9358 (2022).
F. S. Yasin, et al., Adv. Mater. 36, 2311737 (2024).
X.Z. Yu, et al., Communications Mater. 5:84 (2024).
X.Z. Yu, et al., Adv Mater. 35, 2210646 (2023).

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[1] N. Nagaosa and Y. Tokura, Nature Nanotechnology 8, 899 (2013).

[2] X. Z. Yu, et al., Nature Communications 3, 988 (2012).

[3] T. Skyrme, Nucl. Phys. 31, 556 (1962).

[4] A. Bogdanov and A. Hubert, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 138, 255 (1994).

[5] X. Z. Yu, et al., Nature 465, 901 (2010).

[6] X.Z. Yu, et al., Sci. Adv. 6, eaaz9744 (2020).

[7] L.C. Peng, et al., Nature Nanotechnology 15, 181(2020).

[8] X.Z. Yu, et al., Nano Lett. 22, 9358 (2022).

[9] F. S. Yasin, et al., Adv. Mater. 36, 2311737 (2024).

[10] X.Z. Yu, et al., Communications Mater. 5:84 (2024).

[11] X.Z. Yu, et al., Adv Mater. 35, 2210646 (2023).

Real-space observations of 2D and 3D topological spin textures and their current-driven dynamics

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