Density functional theory study of skyrmion pinning by atomic defects in MnSi

Abstract

A magnetic skyrmion observed experimentally in chiral magnets is a topologically protected spin texture. For their unique properties, such as high mobility under current drive, skyrmions have huge potential for applications in next-generation spintronic devices. Defects naturally occurring in magnets have profound effects on the static and dynamical properties of skyrmions. In this work, we study the effect of an atomic defect on a skyrmion using the first-principles calculations within the density functional theory, taking MnSi as an example. By substituting one site of Mn or Si with different elements, we can tune the pinning energy. The effects of pinning by an atomic defect can be understood qualitatively within a phenomenological model.

6 pages, 7 figures

References in corpus (7)

• Theory of current-driven motion of Skyrmions and spirals in helical magnets
• Long wavelength helimagnetic order and skyrmion lattice phase in Cu2OSeO3
• A reversible conversion between a skyrmion and a domain-wall pair in junction geometry
• Particle model for skyrmions in metallic chiral magnets: dynamics, pinning and creep
• Rotating skyrmion lattices by spin torques and field or temperature gradients
• Electric field-induced Skyrmion distortion and giant lattice rotation in the magnetoelectric insulator Cu2OSeO3
• Electric-field control of the skyrmion lattice in Cu2OSeO3

Cited by in corpus (9)

• Statics and Dynamics of Skyrmions Interacting with Pinning: A Review
• Skyrmion pinning energetics in thin film systems
• Strong-Correlation Derived Spin-Fermion Model for Skyrmions in MnGe
• Unpinning the skyrmion lattice in MnSi:Effect of substitutional disorder
• Surface pinning and triggered unwinding of skyrmions in a cubic chiral magnet
• Multiple magnetic states within the A-phase determined by field-orientation dependence of Mn0.9Fe0.1Si
• Universality of defect-skyrmion interaction profiles
• Finite-element methods for noncollinear magnetism and spin-orbit coupling in real-space pseudopotential density functional theory
• Positional stability of skyrmions in a racetrack memory with notched geometry