Optical skyrmions can control the motion of magnetic skyrmions
Magnetic skyrmions (MSks) are swirling patterns of magnetization that form inside certain magnetic materials. They can behave like actual particles in many ways, exhibiting a stable internal structure and distinct boundaries. Because they are extremely small and can be pushed around with relatively little energy, MSks are regarded as promising information carriers in emerging technologies,…
Optical skyrmions and magnetic skyrmions, both topologically distinct entities, could potentially interact to control the motion of one another, according to a study published in Physical Review Letters. Researchers from Waseda University in Japan discovered that structured patterns of light, known as optical skyrmions, could influence the movement of magnetic skyrmions, which are swirling patterns of magnetization found within certain magnetic materials.
This discovery could revolutionize the field of data storage and processing technologies by enabling contact-free, precise control over magnetic skyrmions using structured light. The study revealed three distinct types of motion for magnetic skyrmions when exposed to optical skyrmion beams: rotational motion, localized deviations (skipping), and looping trajectories (trochoidal motion).
By analyzing the direction of these motions, the researchers found that they could be controlled by varying the optical field's intensity, phase, and polarization structure. This breakthrough paves the way for optomagnonics and spintronic technologies, offering a novel means of connecting photonic information processing with magnetic information storage and computation.
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