JERUSALEM, May 22 (Xinhua) -- Israeli and Chinese researchers have discovered a new way to control tiny magnetic structures called skyrmions, which could help develop more efficient memory and sensing devices in future electronics, according to a statement issued by the Hebrew University of Jerusalem (HU) on Thursday.
The researchers, from HU, Tiangong University in Tianjin, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences in Beijing, published their findings in Nature Communications.
Skyrmions are tiny and stable magnetic structures that can exist in special materials and be manipulated with little energy, making them potential building blocks for future low-power electronic devices.
Using iron tin, known for maintaining stable skyrmions even at extreme temperatures, the scientists applied electric currents to make the skyrmions vibrate in specific patterns.
They observed two distinct vibration modes: a breathing motion similar to expanding and contracting lungs and a spinning motion. The patterns confirmed earlier theories that iron tin behaves differently from other magnetic materials.
Meanwhile, the team also found that when they applied a steady current, the resonance signals changed in a way that reveals the presence of special spin currents - flows of magnetic energy created by the movement of electrons' spins, rather than their electric charge.
Computer models showed it was caused by a special kind of force called damping-like torque. The force happens when many spinning electrons move together in the same direction.
The researcher said their findings offer a deeper understanding of how spin currents interact with magnetic materials and hold potential for developing low-power memory storage. Their method of using skyrmion vibrations could lead to highly sensitive magnetic sensors for medical imaging, quantum computing, and advanced electronics. ■
