Possible Methods to Observe Skyrmion

Phase in SrRuO3 Thin-film Directly

2017. 11. 21.

Byungmin Sohn
Ordinary and Anomalous Hall Effects in SrRuO 3 thin-film

𝜌 𝑥𝑦 = 𝜌 𝑂𝐻𝐸 + 𝜌 𝐴𝐻𝐸 = 𝑅0 𝐻 + 𝑅 𝐴 𝜌 𝑥𝑥2 𝑀

0.4 Structure of SrRuO3
20 u.c.
2K 𝜌 𝑂𝐻𝐸 +𝜌 𝐴𝐻𝐸
200K
0.2

7.8446 Å
Rxy ()

0.0
(∵ M = 0)
5.5670 Å

-0.2 5.5304 Å

-0.4
SrRuO3 shows anomalous Hall effects
-4 -2 0 2
Applied Magnetic Field (T)
4
owing to its ferromagnetism.
Topological Hall Effects in SrRuO3 ultra-thin film
4, 5 and 6 unit-cell SrRuO3 thin-film show topological Hall effects near coercive fields.
H sweep direction

4 u.c. 5 u.c. 6 u.c. 7 u.c.

12.0 100K

10.5
80K

9.0
50K

7.5
40K
(cm)
AHE+THE

6.0
30K


4.5
20K

3.0
10K

1.5
5K

0.0
2K

-2 -1 0 1 2 -2 -1 0 1 2 -2 -1 0 1 2 -2 -1 0 1 2
0H (T)

𝜌 𝑥𝑦 =𝜌 𝑂𝐻𝐸 + 𝜌 𝐴𝐻𝐸 + 𝜌 𝑇𝐻𝐸 =𝑅0 𝐻 + 𝑅 𝐴 𝜌 𝑥𝑥2 𝑀 + 𝜌 𝑇𝐻𝐸

The emergent electromagnetic field (EEMF) from Skyrmions

When conduction electrons and spin texture are strongly coupled by Hund’s rule coupling.

Conduction
electron
Spin texture

Topological Hall Effect

Scalar spin chirality affects conduction electrons by gauge field A.

Emergent magnetic field by Skyrmion produces Topological Hall effect.

Yuki Shiomi, Anomalous and Topological Hall Effects in Itinerant Magnets (Doctoral dissertation), 2013.

A. Soumyanarayanan et al., Nature Mater. 16, 898-905 (2017).

Lorentz-TEM and Topological Hall Effects in 50nm MnSi thin-film

Topological Hall Effects are not enough to prove Skyrmion

Phase.

Topological Hall effect shows Skyrmion states indirectly.

However, other magnetic states also can show THE.

Akira Tonomura et al., Nano Letters, 12, 1673-1677 (2012).

Yufan Li, Y. et al., Phys. Rev. Letter. 107, 117202 (2013).
Various Experiments for Imaging Spin Texture
MFM from Fe0.5Co0.5Si LTEM image of Fe0.5Co0.5Si
Resolution ~ 10nm

Resolution ~ 30nm

Spin Polarized STM from single layer Fe film on Ir(111)

Able to observe directions of spins

Most preferable methods for ob-

serving Skyrmions

Resolution ~ atomic scale

Yu, S. Z. Et al. , Nature 465, 901-904 (2010).
P. Milde et al., Science 340, 1076 (2013).
S. Heinze et al., Nature physics 7, 713-718 (2011).
Real Space Skyrmions Imaging by Lorentz-TEM
LTEM image of Fe0.5Co0.5Si LTEM image of MnSi LTEM image of FeGe

Thickness ~ 40 nm

SrRuO3 4 uc (~1.6 nm) Only 4% !

SrTiO3 40 nm Catching signals from SrRuO3 thin-film is difficult.

Is there any other experiment for observing Skyrmion
other than real-space imaging?
X. Z. Yu et al., Nature 465, 901-904 (2010).
Akira Tonomura et al., Nano Letters, 12, 1673-1677 (2012).
X. Z. Yu et al., Nature Materials 10, 106-109 (2011).
 Measuring topological Hall effects of bulk MnSi with changing electric current

Suggesting a method for observing skyrmion phase

by using transport measurement.

Mühlbauer, S. et al., Science 323, 915-919 (2009).

Spin Textures Moving by Electric Current
Domain-wall memory

𝑗𝑐 1011 𝐴 𝑚−2 𝑗𝑐 106 𝐴𝑚 −2

Not only domain-wall but also Skyrmions can move in electric current.
If we measures the movement of Skyrmion itself, we can prove Skyrmion phase.

N. Nagaosa, Nature  Nanotech. 8, 899-911 (2013).

Hall resistivity depending on temperature
Various magnetic fields Various electric currents

The Hall resistivity only changes in the

Skyrmion region by size of electric currents.

Mühlbauer, S. et al., Science 323, 915-919 (2009).

Hall resistivity depending on current at B = 250mT
Paramagnet

Largest at the center of Skyrmion phase

Orientation of local magnetization M

The spin-textures make emergent magnetic and electric fields

with (Faraday’s law)

The total force on an (conduction) electron

Hall force from OHE and AHE Topological and Skyrmion Hall effect

𝒗𝜎𝒌𝑛
−
𝑒
𝒗𝑑
Conical
Dynamics of Skyrmion Lattice

The change of Hall force due to Skyrmion Hall effect

~ 𝑒 𝑒
∆ 𝐹 𝜎 𝒌= 𝑃 𝒒 𝜎 × 𝑬

The ratio of electric currents obtained from and E

(Kubo Formula)

The change of electric Hall field due to Skyrmion Hall effect

The drift velocity along the current direction

The pinning velocity The drift velocity is proportional to current and Hall resistivity differ-
ence.
with .
the force per skyrmion and per length needed to depin
The pinning velocity only proportional to critical current.
Main characteristics of the response of the Skyrmion lattice
Conical Para-M
Skyrmion behaviors depending on current
i)
𝒗 𝜎𝒌𝑛
−
𝑒

ii)
𝒗 𝜎𝒌𝑛
−
𝑒
𝒗 𝑑 < 𝒗 𝑝𝑖𝑛

iii)

𝑒−
j
Summary
 Topological Hall effects are observed in SrRuO3 ultra-
thin-film, however it is not enough to prove Skyrmion
phase.

 Real space imaging can be tried but difficult since our

thin-film is too thin.

 Observing Skyrmion Hall effect is one of the possible

ways to prove Skyrmion phase.