Skyrmion-based Electronics: developing versatile compact models for basic CMOS-compatible skyrmion-based electronics devices

The main goal of this project is to develop versatile compact models for basic CMOS-compatible skyrmion-based electronics devices that incorporate computation and/or memory functions. Several candidate technologies have recently emerged to replace the MOSFET transistor which is the horsepower of silicon electronics. Although there is no clear winner among these technologies, it is certain that future integrated systems will comprise considerably heterogeneous/hybrid technologies both for computing and on-chip data storage. One of the emerging technologies that can complement CMOS technologies is spintronics. The distinct characteristic of spintronics is that information is retained and processed by utilizing the spin rather than the charge of the electrons. There exist several ways to manage the spin of electron and transfer or store information leading to a variety of novel devices. Some examples that pertain to technological applications include spin torque transfer and spin orbit transfer magnetic tunnel junctions. Prototype circuits for such spintronics-based devices have been successfully demonstrated.

Another potential spin-based technology, magnetic skyrmions, has attracted extensive interest due to their unique physical characteristics. Magnetic skyrmions are nanoscale topologically stable vortex-like spin windings that are extremely robust due to their topology and are considered promising candidates for information carriers in logic and memory technological applications. Their small size (nanoscale), robustness against material defects and low electrical currents required to manipulate them can lead to next generation ultra-dense, robust and low-power spintronic devices [2]. Skyrmions have recently been demonstrated experimentally at room temperature for the first time in technologically relevant multilayers [3] which opens the way for their use in novel applications [4]. This project aims to model skyrmion-based nano devices with logic/computing and memory functionality using a micromagnetics framework as well as develop circuit models for these devices towards their integration with vanilla CMOS technologies.