Anticipated as future bits in computer memory, these nanobubbles offer enhanced avenues for information processing in electronic devices. Their tiny size
[3] provides great computing and information storage capacity, as well as low energy consumption.
Until now, these nanobubbles moved no faster than 100 m/s, which is too slow for computing applications. However, thanks to the use of an antiferromagnetic material
[4] as medium, the scientists successfully had the skyrmions move 10 times faster than previously observed.
These results, which were published in
Science on 19 March, offer new prospects for developing higher-performance and less energy-intensive computing devices.
This study is part of the SPIN national research programme
[5] launched on 29 January, which supports innovative research in spintronics, with a view to helping develop a more agile and enduring digital world.
Antiferromagnetic skyrmions moved in a magnetic racetrack by an electrical current.
© Bruno Bourgeois and Olivier Boulle
[1] The French laboratories involved are IRIG/SPINTEC (CEA-CNRS-Université Grenoble Alpes), the Institut Néel (CNRS), and the Charles Coulomb Laboratory (CNRS-Université de Montpellier).
[2] A skyrmion consists of elementary nanomagnets (“spins”) that wind to form a highly stable spiral structure, like a tight knot.
[3] The size of a skyrmion can reach a few nanometres, which is to say approximately a dozen atoms.
[4] Antiferromagnetic stacks consist of two nano-sized ferromagnetic layers (such as cobalt) separated by a think non-magnetic layer, with opposite magnetisation.
[5] The SPIN priority research programme and equipment (PEPR) is an exploratory programme in connection with the France 2030 investment plan.