First-Principles Prediction of Skyrmionic Phase Behavior in GdFe2 Films Capped by 4d and 5d Transition Metals

Applied Sciences

Dao Phuong¹  Xiao Zheng¹  Andreas Danilo²  Soyoung Jekal³ 

[1] Hefei National Laboratory, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei 230026, Anhui, China;Laboratory for Solid State Physics, Department of Physics, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland;Laboratory of Metal Physics and Technology, Department of Materials, ETH Zurich, 8093 Zurich, Switzerland;

关键词: skyrmion;    Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction;    exchange energy;    magnetic anisotropy;   

DOI  :  10.3390/app9040630

来源: DOAJ

【 摘 要 】

In atomic GdFe ${}_2$ films capped by 4d and 5d transition metals, we show that skyrmions with diameters smaller than 12 nm can emerge. The Dzyaloshinskii⁻Moriya interaction (DMI), exchange energy, and the magnetocrystalline anisotropy (MCA) energy were investigated based on density functional theory. Since DMI and MCA are caused by spin⁻orbit coupling (SOC), they are increased with 5d capping layers which exhibit strong SOC strength. We discover a skyrmion phase by using atomistic spin dynamic simulations at small magnetic fields of ∼1 T. In addition, a ground state that a spin spiral phase is remained even at zero magnetic field for both films with 4d and 5d capping layers.

【 授权许可】

Unknown