Magnetic skyrmion binning

Abstract

When spin-polarized electrons flow through a magnetic texture a transfer torque is generated. We examine the effect of this torque on skyrmions and skyrmion bags, skyrmionic structures of arbitrary integer topological degree, in thin ferromagnetic films. Using micromagnetic simulations and analysis from the well-known Thiele equation, we explore the potential for sorting or binning skyrmions of varying degrees mechanically. We investigate the applicability of the Thiele equation to problems of this nature and derive a theory of skyrmion deflection ordered by topological degree. We show that skyrmions and skyrmion bags have the potential to move in different directions under a constant current, which has significant potential for technical applications.