Creation and Destruction of Skyrmions via Electrical Modulation of Local Magnetic Anisotropy in Magnetic Thin Films

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures that are promising as carriers of information for computing and storage beyond CMOS-based systems. An electrostatic approach to creating a skyrmion can be more energy efficient than those based on a driving current. In this work, formation and dissolution of N\'eel skyrmions are examined theoretically via electrical modulation of magnetic anisotropy, in both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic structures. Simulations clearly illustrate the feasibility of the mechanism, enabling local control for versatility in applications. Also noteworthy is that the dynamical processes involved are much faster in antiferromagnetic materials.