Skyrmions could revolutionize computing, but simulating them in real-time has been a challenge—until now.
Researchers have devised a method that bridges the gap between simulations and real-world dynamics, paving the way for faster innovation in energy-efficient computing.
Magnetic Whirls: The Future of Data Storage?
Skyrmions are tiny magnetic whirlpools, ranging from nanometers to micrometers in size, that behave like particles and can be easily controlled with electrical currents.
These unique properties make them promising candidates for next-generation data storage and computing. However, simulating their complex internal structure is computationally expensive, making device optimization challenging.
One potential solution is to model skyrmions as particles, similar to how molecules are simulated in biophysics. Until now, though, there has been no reliable way to match simulation time with experimental real-time.
Collaboration of Theory and Experiment
To meet this challenge, the theoretical physics group of Professor Peter Virnau and the experimental physics group of Professor Mathias Kläui at Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) have joined forces. The method for determining the time conversion combines experimental measurement techniques with analysis methods from statistical physics.
Breakthrough in Simulating Skyrmion Dynamics
“We can now not only quantitatively predict the dynamics of skyrmions, but the simulations are also similar in speed to the experiments,” explained theoretical physicist Maarten A. Brems, who developed the method.
“The predictive power of the new simulations will significantly accelerate the development of skyrmion-based applications,” emphasized Professor Mathias Kläui, “especially with regard to novel, alternative energy-saving computer architectures, which are the focus of JGU’s Top-level Research Area ‘TopDyn – Dynamics and Topology’, amongst others.”
The results have been published in Physical Review Letters and highlighted as an Editors’ Suggestion.
Reference: “Realizing Quantitative Quasiparticle Modeling of Skyrmion Dynamics in Arbitrary Potentials” by Maarten A. Brems, Tobias Sparmann, Simon M. Fröhlich, Leonie-C. Dany, Jan Rothörl, Fabian Kammerbauer, Elizabeth M. Jefremovas, Oded Farago, Mathias Kläui and Peter Virnau, 28 January 2025, Physical Review Letters.
DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.134.046701
