Light-induced manipulation of skyrmionic spin textures

• Applicants: Professor Dr. Manfred Albrecht; Dr. Daniel Steil
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: since 2026
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 575043137

Magnetic spin textures, especially topologically protected spin objects such as skyrmions, are considered promising building blocks for spintronic memory and logic devices or for the realization of neuromorphic computers. To make skyrmion textures technologically useful, a comprehensive understanding of the methods for detecting, creating/destroying, and manipulating such textures is first necessary. The present project aims to systematically investigate the manipulation of such spin objects using ultrashort light pulses. It pursues two main objectives. First, the coherent dynamics after laser excitation will be studied. To date, only very limited experimental work exists in this area, but numerous theoretical predictions have been made. Key research areas include the comparison of the dynamics of different classes of skyrmions (Bloch/Néel/hybrid) with various stabilization mechanisms (dipolar/DMI), the investigation of dynamic excitations of complex spin objects such as antiskyrmions and chiral bobbers, and the investigation of coupling between spin objects in dense assemblies. Second, investigations into the light-induced nucleation dynamics of skyrmionic textures in Fe/Gd multilayers and iron garnets will elucidate the mechanisms underlying the formation of topological spin objects upon laser excitation in these materials. The central experimental method in the project is time-resolved magneto-optical Kerr spectroscopy, which will be complemented by micromagnetic simulations and Lorentz microscopy with optical excitation.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Austria
• Cooperation Partner: Dr. Sabri Koraltan