Effective Theory of Ultrafast Skyrmion Nucleation

Fuente: arXiv
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Main Authors: Liefferink, Rein, Körber, Lukas, Gerlinger, Kathinka, Pfau, Bastian, Büttner, Felix, Mentink, Johan H.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Liefferink, Rein
Körber, Lukas
Gerlinger, Kathinka
Pfau, Bastian
Büttner, Felix
Mentink, Johan H.
author_facet Liefferink, Rein
Körber, Lukas
Gerlinger, Kathinka
Pfau, Bastian
Büttner, Felix
Mentink, Johan H.
contents Laser-induced ultrafast skyrmion nucleation has been experimentally demonstrated in several materials. So far, atomistic models have been used to corroborate experimental results. However, such simulations do not provide a simple intuitive understanding of the underlying physics. Here, we propose a coarse-grained effective theory where skyrmions can be nucleated or annihilated by thermal activation over energy barriers. Evaluating these two processes during a heat pulse shows good agreement with atomistic spin dynamics simulations and experiments while drastically reducing computational complexity. Furthermore, the effective theory provides a direct guide for experimentally optimizing the number of nucleated skyrmions. Interestingly, the model also predicts a novel pathway for ultrafast annihilation of skyrmions. Our results pave the way for a deeper understanding of ultrafast nanomagnetism and the role of non-equilibrium physics.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2504_11013
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Effective Theory of Ultrafast Skyrmion Nucleation
Liefferink, Rein
Körber, Lukas
Gerlinger, Kathinka
Pfau, Bastian
Büttner, Felix
Mentink, Johan H.
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Laser-induced ultrafast skyrmion nucleation has been experimentally demonstrated in several materials. So far, atomistic models have been used to corroborate experimental results. However, such simulations do not provide a simple intuitive understanding of the underlying physics. Here, we propose a coarse-grained effective theory where skyrmions can be nucleated or annihilated by thermal activation over energy barriers. Evaluating these two processes during a heat pulse shows good agreement with atomistic spin dynamics simulations and experiments while drastically reducing computational complexity. Furthermore, the effective theory provides a direct guide for experimentally optimizing the number of nucleated skyrmions. Interestingly, the model also predicts a novel pathway for ultrafast annihilation of skyrmions. Our results pave the way for a deeper understanding of ultrafast nanomagnetism and the role of non-equilibrium physics.
title Effective Theory of Ultrafast Skyrmion Nucleation
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2504.11013