Future Information Technologies: New combinations of materials for producing magnetic monopoles
X-PEEM images show the orientation of magnetic domains in the permalloy film overlaid on the superconducting dot (dashed square) before (left image) and after the write process (right image). In this sample the domains (arrows, right image) are reorientied in a monopole pattern. © HZB
An international collaboration at BESSY II has discovered a new method to inscribe exotic magnetic patterns such as magnetic monopoles into thin ferromagnetic films. Such unconventional orientation of magnetic domains might open a new path for the design of energy efficient data storage. The new materials system consists of regular arrays of superconducting YBaCuO-dots covered with an extremely thin permalloy film. A shortly applied external magnetic field leads to the creation of supercurrents within the superconducting dots. These currents produce a complex magnetic field pattern, which is inscribed into the permalloy film above. The results are published in Advanced Science.
Magnetic patterns such as monopoles or skyrmions (stable vortices) are promising options for fast and energy efficient data storage. However obtaining and manipulating such magnetic structures is not easy. Now, Dr. Sergio Valencia and his colleagues at HZB, in collaboration with the materials science institute of Barcelona, have discovered an interesting new materials system which could do the trick. The samples consisted of regular arrays of superconducting YBaCuO-dots, approximately 20 micrometer in diameter and coming in different geometries. Valencia and his team covered these microstructures with an extremely thin film of ferromagnetic iron-nickel-alloy, a so called permalloy.
Complex magnetic patterns
The experiments were done at low temperatures (50 K), allowing the YBaCuO-dots to be superconducting. To change the magnetic domains inside the permalloy, an external magnetic field, perpendicular to the sample plane, was shortly applied. This external field, not enough to reorient the magnetic domains of permalloy, lead to the creation of a so-called supercurrent within the superconducting dots. Such superconducting currents do persist even after the removal of the external magnetic field and produce themselves a complex magnetic field pattern.
Mapping at BESSY II
It is this magnetic pattern, which does rearrange the magnetic domains of the permalloy film on top. It was possible, to reorient all domains pointing toward or away from a common centre, similar to magnetic monopoles. Valencia and his colleagues were able to map the magnetic domains of the permalloy by means of X-ray photoelectron emissions microscopy (X-PEEM and XMCD) at BESSY II.
Monopoles and skyrmions
Computer simulations reaffirm how such magnetic patterns are created in the permalloy film via the interaction with the superconducting dots. Choosing different geometries and arrangements of dots can produce and control a multitude of exotic magnetic patterns similar to monopoles as well as skyrmions, a type of stable vortex. “I am quite optimistic that it is possible to miniaturise such patterns to facilitate their implementation in magnetic memories, for example. What is more, we even have some ideas on how to stabilise such magnetic structures at room temperature”, Valencia says.
The paper on "Encoding Magnetic States in Monopole-Like Configurations Using Superconducting Dots" is published in Advanced Science, Open Access.
DOI: 10.1002/advs.201600207
- Key technology for a future without fossil fuelsIn June and July 2025, catalyst researcher Nico Fischer spent some time at HZB. It was his sabbatical, he was relieved of his duties as Director of the Catalysis Institute in Cape Town for several months and was able to focus on research only. His institute is collaborating with HZB on two projects that aim to develop environmentally friendly alternatives using innovative catalyst technologies. The questions were asked by Antonia Rötger, HZB.
- Lithium-sulphur batteries with lean electrolyte: problem areas clarifiedUsing a non-destructive method, a team at HZB investigated practical lithium-sulphur pouch cells with lean electrolyte for the first time. With operando neutron tomography, they could visualise in real-time how the liquid electrolyte distributes and wets the electrodes across multilayers during charging and discharging. These findings offer valuable insights into the cell failure mechanisms and are helpful to design compact Li-S batteries with a high energy density in formats relevant to industrial applications.
- Self assembling monolayer can improve lead-free perovskite solar cells tooTin perovskite solar cells are not only non-toxic, but also potentially more stable than lead-containing perovskite solar cells. However, they are also significantly less efficient. Now, an international team has succeeded in reducing losses in the lower contact layer of tin perovskite solar cells: The scienstists identified chemical compounds that self-assemble into a molecular layer that fits very well with the lattice structure of tin perovskites. On this monolayer, tin perovskite with excellent optoelectronic quality can be grown, which increases the performance of the solar cell.