arXiv subjects

Andrey Stashkevich

Publications and source records attributed to Andrey Stashkevich.

6 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Control of skyrmion chirality in Ta/FeCoB/TaOx trilayers by TaOx oxidation and FeCoB thickness

Skyrmions are magnetic bubbles with nontrivial topology envisioned as data bits for ultrafast and power-efficient spintronic memory and logic devices. They may be stabilized in heavy-metal/ferromagnetic/oxide trilayer systems. The skyrmion chirality is then determined by the sign of the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). Nevertheless, for apparently identical systems, there is some controversy about the DMI sign. Here, we show that the degree of oxidation of the top interface and the thickness of the ferromagnetic layer play a major role. Using Brillouin light-scattering measurements in Ta/Fe-Co-B/TaOx trilayers, we demonstrate a sign change of the DMI with the degree of oxidation of the Fe-Co-B/TaOx interface. Using polar magneto-optical Kerr effect microscopy, we consistently observe a reversal of the direction of current-induced motion of skyrmions with the oxidation level of TaOx; this is attributed to their chirality reversal. In addition, a second chirality reversal is observed when changing the Fe-Co-B thickness, probably due to the proximity of the two Fe-Co-B interfaces in the ultrathin case. By properly tuning the chirality of the skyrmion, spin-transfer and spin-orbit torques combine constructively to enhance the skyrmion velocity. These observations thus allow us to envision an optimization of the material parameters to produce highly mobile skyrmions. Moreover, this chirality control enables a versatile manipulation of skyrmions and paves the way towards multidirectional devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2022

Excitation and reception of magnetostatic surface spin waves in thin conducting ferromagnetic films by coplanar microwave antennas. Part II: Experiment

We report on propagating spin-wave spectroscopy measurements carried out on coplanar nano-antenna devices made from a Si/SiO$_2$/Ru(5nm)/Co(20)/Pt(5nm) film. The measurements were analyzed in detail by employing newly developed theoretical modeling and de-embedding procedures. The magnetic parameters of the film were determined by complementary Brillouin light scattering and ferromagnetic resonance measurements. The propagating spin wave signals could be accounted for quantitatively for the range of externally applied magnetic fields investigated in this study: 130-1500 Oe.

physics.app-ph↗

arXiv2018

Large voltage tuning of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction: a route towards dynamic control of skyrmion chirality

Electric control of magnetism is a prerequisite for efficient and low power spintronic devices. More specifically, in heavy metal/ ferromagnet/ insulator heterostructures, voltage gating has been shown to locally and dynamically tune magnetic properties like interface anisotropy and saturation magnetization. However, its effect on interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction (DMI), which is crucial for the stability of magnetic skyrmions, has been challenging to achieve and has not been reported yet for ultrathin films. Here, we demonstrate 130% variation of DMI with electric field in Ta/FeCoB/TaOx trilayers through Brillouin Light Spectroscopy (BLS). Using polar- Magneto-Optical-Kerr-Effect microscopy, we further show a monotonic variation of DMI and skyrmionic bubble size with electric field, with an unprecedented efficiency. We anticipate through our observations that a sign reversal of DMI with electric field is possible, leading to a chirality switch. This dynamic manipulation of DMI establishes an additional degree of control to engineer programmable skyrmion based memory or logic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Microwave to optical photon conversion by means of travelling-wave magnons in YIG films

In this work we study theoretically the efficiency of a travelling magnon based microwave to optical photon converter for applications in Quantum Information (QI). The converter employs an epitaxially grown yttrium iron garnet (YIG) film as the medium for propagation of travelling magnons (spin waves). The conversion is achieved through coupling of magnons to guided optical modes of the film. The total microwave to optical photon conversion efficiency is found to be larger than in a similar process employing a YIG sphere by at least 4 orders of magnitude. By creating an optical resonator of a large length from the film (such that the traveling magnon decays before forming a standing wave over the resonator length) one will be able to further increase the efficiency by several orders of magnitude, potentially reaching a value similar to achieved with opto-mechanical resonators. Also, as a spin-off result, it is shown that isolation of more that 20 dB with direct insertion losses about 5 dBm can be achieved with YIG film based microwave isolators for applications in Quantum Information. An important advantage of the suggested concept of the QI devices based on travelling spin waves is a perfectly planar geometry and a possibility of implementing a the device as a hybrid opto-microwave chip.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Room temperature chiral magnetic skyrmion in ultrathin magnetic nanostructures

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 Néel 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.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in perpendicularly-magnetized Pt/Co/AlO$_x$ ultrathin films measured by Brillouin light spectroscopy

Spin waves in perpendicularly-magnetized Pt/Co/AlO$_x$/Pt ultrathin films with varying Co thicknesses (0.6-1.2 nm) have been studied with Brillouin light spectroscopy in the Damon-Eshbach geometry. The measurements reveal a pronounced nonreciprocal propagation, which increases with decreasing Co thicknesses. This nonreciprocity is attributed to an interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI), which is significantly stronger than asymmetries resulting from surface anisotropies for such modes. Results are consistent with an interfacial DMI constant $D_s = -1.7 \pm 0.11$ pJ/m, which favors left-handed chiral spin structures. This suggests that such films below 1 nm in thickness should support novel chiral states like skyrmions.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗