Phys.org September 7, 2022
Magnetic skyrmions are envisioned as information carriers in future information technology. Skyrmions in thin magnetic films may act as an ideal test bed to study the dynamics of topologically non-trivial magnetic quasi-particles. To study the skyrmions reliable generation of the magnetic skyrmion at controlled positions is required. An international team of researchers (Germany, the Netherlands) developed full nanometer-scale control of the skyrmion generation by two independent approaches employing He+-ion irradiation or using backside reflective masks. The influence of nanopatterned backside aluminum masks on the optical excitation was studied in two sample geometries with varying layer sequence of substrate and magnetic Co/Pt multilayer. Simulations of the spatial modulation of the laser excitation and the following heat transfer across the interfaces in the two sample geometries are employed to explain these observations. The results demonstrate a reliable approach to add nanometer-scale spatial control to optically induced magnetization processes on ultrafast timescales…read more. TECHNICAL ARTICLE  1 , Open Access 2 Â
Scheme of the direct and indirect coupling geometry. Credit: Phys. Rev. B 106, 054435, 30 August 2022Â