Switching skyrmions with VCMA/electric field for memory, computing and information processing

Abstract

A fixed magnetic skyrmion in a memory or Boolean logic or non-Boolean computing element is reversibly switched or switchable (1) with only an electric field and without a magnetic field or spin current; and (2) using voltage control of magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) to reduce the spin current needed to switch the skyrmion. Some embodiments switch between four states: two skyrmion states and two ferromagnetic states. Other embodiments switch between two states which are both skyrmionic, in which case the switching process may use ferromagnetic intermediate states, or both ferromagnetic, in which case the switching process may use skyrmionic intermediate states, or between a Skyrmion and ferromagnetic state. Boolean and non-Boolean logic devices are also provided which are based on these switching methods.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.