Scientists have created the first 3D image of a magnetic skyrmion, revealing surprising complexities that may pave the way for innovations in data storage and quantum computing. These minuscule spiral-shaped flaws in the magnetic field of certain materials are far more intricate than previously thought, offering potential breakthroughs in electronics.
Traditionally, skyrmions were understood through 2D models, which offered limited insight into their full structure and interactions. This new study, led by physicist David Raftrey at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, provides a comprehensive 3D picture, unveiling new details on how skyrmions function within magnetic materials. As the team notes in their paper, “The presence of skyrmions or other magnetic textures at the microscopic level fundamentally determines the properties, behavior, and functionality of magnetic materials.”
Using a specialized imaging process called magnetic X-ray laminography, Raftrey and his team analyzed a disk only 800 nanometers in diameter and 95 nanometers thick, gradually rotating and X-raying it over months. With advanced algorithms, they reconstructed the skyrmion in 3D, observing its layer-by-layer structure and interactions, something previously hidden from 2D analyses.
What Makes Skyrmions Special?
In magnetic materials, skyrmions appear as stable, swirling electron spin structures. They can be controlled using magnetic fields or electric charges, making them incredibly promising for spintronics, a field that leverages electron spins rather than electrical charges. Unlike conventional data storage, which relies on electron charge and leads to energy losses, skyrmion-based storage is far more efficient. Their robustness, speed, and difficulty to break down suggest they could revolutionize data storage by encoding bits more compactly.
“Relying on the charge of the electron, as it is done today, comes with inevitable energy losses. Using spins, the losses will be significantly lower,” says Peter Fischer, a materials scientist on the project.
This achievement in 3D skyrmion imaging represents a foundational step in nanoscale metrology for spintronics devices, laying the groundwork for future technologies that could redefine computing. The full study has been published in Science Advances.
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