Skyrmion dynamics in chiral ferromagnets under spin-transfer torque
Abstract
We study the dynamics of skyrmions under spin-transfer torque in Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya materials with easy-axis anisotropy. In particular, we study the motion of a topological skyrmion with skyrmion number and a non-topological skyrmionium with using their linear momentum, virial relations, and numerical simulations. The non-topological skyrmionium is accelerated in the direction of the current flow and it either reaches a steady state with constant velocity, or it is elongated to infinity. The steady-state velocity is given by a balance between current and dissipation and has an upper limit. In contrast, the topological skyrmion converges to a steady-state with constant velocity at an angle to the current flow. When the spin current stops the skyrmion is spontaneously pinned whereas the skyrmionium continues propagation. Exact solutions for the propagating skyrmionium are identified as solutions of equations given numerically in a previous work. Further exact results for propagating skyrmions are given in the case of the pure exchange model. The traveling solutions provide arguments that a spin-polarized current will cause rigid motion of a skyrmion or a skyrmionium.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.1508.04821,
title = {Skyrmion dynamics in chiral ferromagnets under spin-transfer torque},
author = {Stavros Komineas and Nikos Papanicolaou},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1508.04821},
year = {2015}
}
Comments
7 pages, 5 figures