Nanocomputers: skyrmions now within reach

Researchers at Spintec have achieved skyrmions that are stable at ambient temperature and without a magnetic field. The researchers deposited a magnetic layer of cobalt several atoms thick between a layer of platinum and a layer of magnesium oxide. The resulting structure significantly increases the magnetic interaction that underpins the skyrmion’s helicoidal structure.

The skyrmion—a quasiparticle measuring just a few nanometers—is the holy grail of researchers in search of very-low-energy memory solutions. However, to date, very low temperatures or strong magnetic fields have been required to observe skyrmions. Spintec is now a step closer to overcoming this hurdle using a cobalt deposition technique already commonly used in the microelectronics industry.

Contact: olivier.boulle@cea.fr

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