Dynamic behavior of skyrmions under the influence of periodic pinning in chiral magnetic infinite thin films

Abstract

Skyrmions are quasi-particles that were originally proposed theoretically by the British physicist Tony Skyrme. Magnetic skyrmions correspond to a distribution of spins pointing in all directions under a sphere, and are present in ferromagnetic materials, liquid crystals, Bose-Einstein condensates and others. Recently, magnetic skyrmions were observed in chiral magnets. In these materials occurs the formation of skyrmions in a vortex-like structure, stabilizing in a regular hexagonal lattice due to their repulsive interaction. One of the most interesting features of skyrmions is its ability to get into motion when subjected to ultralow values of a spin-polarized current. This is a very promising feature for applications in spintronics, since skyrmions can be manipulated with a low energy cost. Thus, understanding skyrmion dynamics and how to control their movement in these materials is crucial for future technological applications.In the present project we will simulate the dynamics of skyrmions in a two-dimensional chiral magnet under the influence of periodic pinning landscape with zero temperature. Therefore, we will use several pinning arrays such as square, hexagonal, Kagomé and honeycomb, and we will vary the applied magnetic field in order to control the density of skyrmions inside the sample. We will show if the effects of commensurability influences the dynamic regimes and the depinning forces. (AU)