Formation of skyrmions in thin CoPt films with an atomic force microscope probe

Abstract

Methods of magnetic force microscopy have been developed that make it possible to visualize the evolution of the domain structure when scanning a sample with a magnetic probe. These methods were used to study the processes of formation of skyrmions in thin CoPt films, a characteristic feature of which is the presence of the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction. A change in the position, shape, and size of skyrmions under the action of a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic field of the probe has been experimentally demonstrated.