Atomic-scale skyrmions driven by lateral spin-polarized currents

• Applicant: Dr. Stefan Krause
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2018 to 2023
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 403505835

Within this project we aim at the experimental investigation of atomic-scale skyrmions interacting with lateral spin-polarized surface currents using multi-probe spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscopy (SP-STM). We will focus on skyrmions that are stabilized by Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions at the interface between ultrathin magnetic films consisting of only a few atomic layers prepared by epitaxial growth on heavy-element single crystal surfaces. Two of the scanning probe tips will be used as contacts for the controlled generation of a local spin-polarized current within a magnetic stripe. Skyrmion lattices and individual skyrmions affected by the lateral spin-polarized current will be investigated in real-space by means of SP-STM, using a tunneling magnetic probe tip that is positioned between the contact tips. The experiments will be performed under ultrahigh vacuum conditions, at variable temperature between 1 K and 100 K (and ultimately up to room temperature), and in variable external magnetic fields of up to 3 T. Samples will be prepared in vacuo, thereby realizing high purity magnetic ultrathin films as well as well-defined homogeneous interfaces between the magnetic film and the substrate.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 2137: Skyrmionics: Topological Spin Phenomena in Real-Space for Applications