Physicists at Huazhong University of Science and Technology in Hubei, China, have made a significant breakthrough in the field of quantum magnetism by observing the giant skyrmion topological Hall effect (THE) in a two-dimensional ferromagnetic crystal at room temperature. This discovery has the potential to revolutionize the development of two-dimensional topological and spintronic devices such as racetrack memory, logic gates, and spin nano-oscillators.
Skyrmions and the Topological Hall Effect
Skyrmions are quasiparticles with a vortex-like structure that exist in many materials, notably magnetic thin films and multilayers. They are known to stabilize the THE, a phenomenon that occurs when an electric current flows through a material with a magnetic texture. The THE is a key physical phenomenon for the development of spintronic devices, as it allows for the manipulation of spin currents and the detection of magnetic textures.
Stabilizing the 2D Skyrmion Topological Hall Effect
The team at Huazhong University of Science and Technology was able to produce a robust 2D skyrmion THE within a wide temperature window, thanks to an electronic spin interaction known to stabilize skyrmions.