Zero-field skyrmion creation via surface acoustic waves

A A. Adhikari B Bryce Herrington (Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2 , Lincoln, Nebraska 68588,) R R. Oliya (Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2 , Lincoln, Nebraska 68588,) L L. Compton (Department of Physics, Colorado State University 3 , Colorado 80521,) K K. Buchanan (Department of Physics, Colorado State University 3 , Colorado 80521,) R R. Streubel (Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2 , Lincoln, Nebraska 68588,) S S. Adenwalla (Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2 , Lincoln, Nebraska 68588,)

Abstract

We investigate the effect of high-frequency surface acoustic waves on skyrmion bubbles in Cr/Ta/Pt/CoFeB/Pt heterostructures on 128° Y cut lithium niobate. The as-deposited samples are in a single-domain state. Low-temperature annealing yields a multi-domain state, and a subsequent field sweep results in the nucleation of bubbles with significantly increased density in the presence of propagating or standing surface acoustic waves. This increase stems from the strain-driven modifications to the magnetic anisotropy that lowers the barriers to nucleation in pinning sites near the nucleation threshold.

Article Details

Volume / Issue Vol. 127, Issue 10
Published September 08, 2025
ISSN 0003-6951
Publisher American Institute of Physics

Journal Info

Applied Physics Letters

American Institute of Physics

ISSN: 0003-6951 Physical Sciences

Authors (7)

A

A. Adhikari

B

Bryce Herrington

Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2 , Lincoln, Nebraska 68588,

R

R. Oliya

Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2 , Lincoln, Nebraska 68588,

L

L. Compton

Department of Physics, Colorado State University 3 , Colorado 80521,

K

K. Buchanan

Department of Physics, Colorado State University 3 , Colorado 80521,

R

R. Streubel

Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2 , Lincoln, Nebraska 68588,

S

S. Adenwalla

Department of Physics and Astronomy and Nebraska Center for Materials and Nanoscience, University of Nebraska-Lincoln 2 , Lincoln, Nebraska 68588,