Direct observation and dynamics of spontaneous skyrmion-like magnetic domains in a ferromagnet

Masahiro Nagao; Yeong Gi So; Hiroyuki Yoshida; Masaaki Isobe; Toru Hara; Kazuo Ishizuka; Koji Kimoto

doi:10.1038/nnano.2013.69

Direct observation and dynamics of spontaneous skyrmion-like magnetic domains in a ferromagnet

Masahiro Nagao, Yeong Gi So, Hiroyuki Yoshida, Masaaki Isobe, Toru Hara, Kazuo Ishizuka, Koji Kimoto

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

55 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The structure and dynamics of submicrometre magnetic domains are the main factors determining the physical properties of magnetic materials. Here, we report the first observation of skyrmion-like magnetic nanodomains in a ferromagnetic manganite, La_0.5 Ba_0.5 MnO₃, using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM). The skyrmion-like magnetic domains appear as clusters above the Curie temperature. We found that the repeated reversal of magnetic chirality is caused by thermal fluctuation. The closely spaced clusters exhibit dynamic coupling, and the repeated magnetization reversal becomes fully synchronized with the same chirality. Quantitative analysis of such dynamics was performed by LTEM to directly determine the barrier energy for the magnetization reversal of skyrmion-like nanometre domains. This study is expected to pave the way for further investigation of the unresolved nature and dynamics of magnetic vortex-like nanodomains.

Original language	English
Pages (from-to)	325-328
Number of pages	4
Journal	Nature Nanotechnology
Volume	8
Issue number	5
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2013.69
Publication status	Published - 2013 May

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Bioengineering
Biomedical Engineering
Materials Science(all)
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Condensed Matter Physics
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics

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abstract = "The structure and dynamics of submicrometre magnetic domains are the main factors determining the physical properties of magnetic materials. Here, we report the first observation of skyrmion-like magnetic nanodomains in a ferromagnetic manganite, La0.5 Ba0.5 MnO3, using Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (LTEM). The skyrmion-like magnetic domains appear as clusters above the Curie temperature. We found that the repeated reversal of magnetic chirality is caused by thermal fluctuation. The closely spaced clusters exhibit dynamic coupling, and the repeated magnetization reversal becomes fully synchronized with the same chirality. Quantitative analysis of such dynamics was performed by LTEM to directly determine the barrier energy for the magnetization reversal of skyrmion-like nanometre domains. This study is expected to pave the way for further investigation of the unresolved nature and dynamics of magnetic vortex-like nanodomains.",

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AU - Nagao, Masahiro

AU - So, Yeong Gi

AU - Yoshida, Hiroyuki

AU - Isobe, Masaaki

AU - Hara, Toru

AU - Ishizuka, Kazuo

AU - Kimoto, Koji

PY - 2013/5

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Direct observation and dynamics of spontaneous skyrmion-like magnetic domains in a ferromagnet

Abstract

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