Static and Dynamic Properties of Magnetic Skyrmions and Their Applications

非技术摘要该奖项支持实验研究和教育，以促进自旋电子学和磁学的基础知识。自旋电子学使用电子自旋来构造超越传统半导体芯片的高性能电子器件。研究小组调查的磁性实体或粒子被称为磁性skyrmions，这是二维材料中出现的微小磁性漩涡，可用于计算和信息存储。 通过研究工作，该团队可以有效地控制skyrmion的运动并构建skyrmionic设备，从而为培养下一代自旋电子学科学家提供研究平台。首席研究员（PI）计划开发新的制造工艺和表征技术，这些技术可能会导致革命性的计算，安全和传感设备。PI使用最先进的高分辨率磁成像和电子测量技术来揭示新的基于自旋的物理现象。PI计划在材料/设备处理和表征方面培训不同的学生群体。研究团队致力于为公众和年轻人的科学教育做出持久的贡献。纳米物理和器件的研究在计算、信息存储和处理、量子传感和医疗诊断等领域对我们的社会产生了积极的影响。支持Skyrmion的设备消耗低功耗或更便宜的材料，从而缓解气候变化。该研究项目在发现和发明方面具有巨大潜力，进一步提高了美国在电子行业的竞争优势，并有助于保持在先进研究、制造和创新方面的领先地位。技术摘要本项目的目标是通过探索Skyrmions与各种激发（包括磁场和自旋电流）之间的相互作用，了解磁性多层膜中磁性Skyrmions的静态和动态特性。PI旨在理解skyrmions的静态，全局和局部动态行为，无论是单独还是集体作为集群。实验方法采用最先进的样品制造，亚微米光刻，先进的成像技术和高灵敏度的电子测量。该研究小组依赖于微磁模拟，电子磁输运理论和凝聚态物理学的自旋轨道耦合。该团队计划开发新的设备范例，在信息的非易失性，概率计算，低功耗，纳米级可扩展性，超快操作和热稳定性方面优于现有设计。该项目推进了自旋电子学和拓扑磁性物理学的基础知识。该团队计划发展对单skyrmion行为，skyrmion-skyrmion相互作用及其与外部控制和空间能量景观中局部变化的相互作用的理解。通过研究工作，该团队可以有效地控制skyrmion并构建skyrmionic设备，为培养下一代自旋电子学关键技术领域的科学家提供研究平台。PI计划培训和教育不同群体的学生，使他们掌握凝聚态物理知识和材料/器件加工和表征的实验技能。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

Nontechnical AbstractThis award supports experimental research and education to advance basic knowledge in spintronics and magnetism. Spintronics uses electron spin to construct highly performing electronic devices beyond the conventional semiconductor chips. The magnetic entities or particles that the research team investigates are called magnetic skyrmions, tiny magnetic swirls that arise in two-dimensional materials that can be used for computing and information storage. Through the research efforts, the team can effectively control the motion of skyrmions and construct skyrmionic devices, thereby providing a research platform to train the next generation of scientists in spintronics. The principal investigator (PI) plans to develop new fabrication processes and characterization techniques that could lead to revolutionary computing, security, and sensing devices. The PI uses the most sophisticated high resolution magnetic imaging and electronic measurement techniques to uncover new spin-based physical phenomena. The PI plans to train diverse groups of students in materials/devices processing and characterization. The research team strives to make a lasting contribution to the science education of the public and young people. Research on nanoscale physics and devices has positive impacts on our society in areas of computing, information storage and processing, quantum sensing, and medical diagnostics. Skyrmion-enabled devices consume low power or less expensive materials, which mitigates climate change. With great potential in discovery and invention, this research project furthers the United States’ competitive edge in the electronics industry and help maintain leadership in advanced research, manufacturing, and innovation. Technical AbstractThe objective of this project is to understand the static and dynamic properties of magnetic skyrmions in magnetic multilayers, by exploring the interactions between skyrmions and various excitations including the magnetic field and spin current. The PI aims to achieve an understanding of the static, global and local dynamic behavior of skyrmions, both individually and collectively as clusters. The experimental approach utilizes state-of-the-art sample fabrication, submicron lithography, advanced imaging techniques and highly sensitive electronic measurements. The research team relies on micromagnetic simulations, electron magnetotransport theory, and condensed matter physics on spin-orbit coupling. The team plans to develop new device paradigms with advantages over existing designs in non-volatility of information, probabilistic computing, low power consumption, nanoscale scalability, ultrafast operation, and thermal stability. The project advances basic knowledge in spintronics and physics of topological magnetism. The team plans to develop understanding about single-skyrmion behavior, skyrmion-skyrmion interactions and their interactions with external controls and local variations in the spatial energy landscape. Through the research efforts, the team can effectively control skyrmions and construct skyrmionic devices, providing a research platform to train the next generation of scientists in the critical technological area of spintronics. The PI plans to train and educate diverse groups of students in their acquisition of condensed matter physics knowledge and experimental skills in materials/devices processing and characterization.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.