RC circuit based on magnetic skyrmions

Abstract

Skyrmions are nano-sized magnetic whirls attractive for spintronic applications due to their innate stability. They can emulate the characteristic behavior of various spintronic and electronic devices such as spin-torque nano-oscillators, artificial neurons and synapses, logic devices, diodes, and ratchets. Here, we show that skyrmions can emulate the physics of an RC circuit, the fundamental electric circuit composed of a resistor and a capacitor, on the nanosecond time scale. The equation of motion of a current-driven skyrmion in a quadratic energy landscape is mathematically equivalent to the differential equation characterizing an RC circuit: the applied current resembles the applied input voltage, and the skyrmion position resembles the output voltage at the capacitor. These predictions are confirmed via micromagnetic simulations. We show that such a skyrmion system reproduces the characteristic exponential voltage decay upon charging and discharging the capacitor under constant input. Furthermore, it mimics the low-pass filter behavior of RC circuits by filtering high-frequencies in periodic input signals. Since RC circuits are mathematically equivalent to the Leaky-Integrate-Fire (LIF) model widely used to describe biological neurons, our device concept can also be regarded as a perfect artificial LIF neuron.

Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions, H2020-MSCA-ITN-2020; Project acronym SPEAR; Grant Agreement No. 955671