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      Room temperature chiral magnetic skyrmion in ultrathin magnetic nanostructures

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          Abstract

          Magnetic skyrmions are chiral spin structures with a whirling configuration. Their topological properties, nanometer size and the fact that they can be moved by small current densities have opened a new paradigm for the manipulation of magnetisation at the nanoscale. To date, chiral skyrmion structures have been experimentally demonstrated only in bulk materials and in epitaxial ultrathin films and under external magnetic field or at low temperature. Here, we report on the observation of stable skyrmions in sputtered ultrathin Pt/Co/MgO nanostructures, at room temperature and zero applied magnetic field. We use high lateral resolution X-ray magnetic circular dichroism microscopy to image their chiral N\'eel internal structure which we explain as due to the large strength of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction as revealed by spin wave spectroscopy measurements. Our results are substantiated by micromagnetic simulations and numerical models, which allow the identification of the physical mechanisms governing the size and stability of the skyrmions.

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          Author and article information

          Journal
          2016-01-10
          Article
          10.1038/NNANO.2015.315
          1601.02278
          9166025d-766c-4879-ba8c-59d1494c2b6a

          http://arxiv.org/licenses/nonexclusive-distrib/1.0/

          History
          Custom metadata
          Submitted version. Extended version to appear in Nature Nanotechnology
          cond-mat.mtrl-sci

          Condensed matter
          Condensed matter

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