A micromagnetic theory of skyrmion lifetime in ultrathin ferromagnetic films

Abstract

We use the continuum micromagnetic framework to derive the formulas for compact skyrmion lifetime due to thermal noise in ultrathin ferromagnetic films with relatively weak interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. In the absence of a saddle point connecting the skyrmion solution to the ferromagnetic state, we interpret the skyrmion collapse event as ``capture by an absorber'' at microscale. This yields an explicit Arrhenius collapse rate with both the barrier height and the prefactor as functions of all the material parameters, as well as the dynamical paths to collapse.

6 pages, 1 figure

References in corpus (5)

• Advances in the Physics of Magnetic Skyrmions and Perspective for Technology
• Inertia, diffusion and dynamics of a driven skyrmion
• A quantitative description of skyrmions in ultrathin ferromagnetic films and rigidity of degree $\pm 1$ harmonic maps from ${\mathbb{R}}^2$ to ${\mathbb{S}}^2$
• Atomistic perspective of long lifetimes of small skyrmions at room temperature
• Skyrmion collapse

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Topological invariants of vortices, merons, skyrmions, and their combinations in continuous and discrete systems
• Theory of magnetic field-stabilized compact skyrmions in thin film ferromagnets
• Anisotropic skyrmion mass induced by surrounding conduction electrons: A Schwinger-Keldysh field theory approach
• Magnetic skyrmions under confinement
• A new skyrmion topological transition driven by higher-order exchange interactions in Janus MnSeTe