The Next Generation of Information Technology: The Spintronics Revolution May Come Soon

Ten years ago, the discovery of quasi particles known as magnetic Skyrmions provided important new clues for how microscopic spin textures make spintronics possible. Spintronics is a new type of electronics that encodes data using the direction of electron spin rather than charge. Although scientists have made tremendous progress in this very young field, they still do not fully understand how to design spintronic materials that can achieve ultra small, ultra fast, and low-power devices.o8YTextile Testing Instruments, Testing Equipment Manufacturer

Skyrmions may seem promising, but scientists have long viewed them as just two-dimensional objects. However, recent research suggests that 2D Skyrmions may actually be the origin of 3D spin mode Hopfions. But no one has yet been able to experimentally prove the existence of magnetic Hopfs at the nanoscale.o8YTextile Testing Instruments, Testing Equipment Manufacturer

Now, a research team led by the Berkeley Laboratory has reported in Nature Communications the first 3D Hopmotion observed at the nanoscale (billionth of a meter) from skyrmions in a magnetic system. Researchers say their findings indicate a significant step forward in achieving high-density, high-speed, low-power, and ultra stable magnetic storage devices that utilize the inherent energy of electron spin.o8YTextile Testing Instruments, Testing Equipment Manufacturer

Researchers not only demonstrated the existence of complex spin textures like 3D Hopions, but also demonstrated how to study and utilize them. According to previous research, hopfions and skyrmions are different in that they do not drift when moving on the device, making them excellent candidates for data technology. In addition, theoretical collaborators in the UK predict that Hopfion may arise from multi-layer 2D magnetic systems.o8YTextile Testing Instruments, Testing Equipment Manufacturer

As is well known, Hopfs and skyrmions coexist in magnetic materials, but they have a characteristic spin pattern in three-dimensional space. Therefore, to distinguish them, researchers used a combination of two advanced magnetic X-ray microscopy techniques to image the unique spin modes of hopfs and skyrmions. To confirm their observations, researchers subsequently conducted detailed simulations to simulate how 2D skyrmions inside magnetic devices evolve into 3D hopfs in carefully designed multi-layer structures, and how these will appear in polarized X-ray imaging.o8YTextile Testing Instruments, Testing Equipment Manufacturer

In order to better understand how Hopion will ultimately play a role in the device, researchers plan to utilize the unique capabilities of the Berkeley laboratory and cutting-edge research facilities to further investigate the dynamic behavior of this quasi particle.o8YTextile Testing Instruments, Testing Equipment Manufacturer