Regulating the magnetic skyrmion in a confined nanochannel under a gradient magnetic field

A magnetic skyrmion could be endowed with various dynamic magnetic configurations and behaviors. By artificially generating a gradient magnetic field in a confined nanochannel, we have shown the magnetic dynamics of an isolated skyrmion, achieving the coexistence of moving and breathing modes. Such a phenomenon has been proven to be not only correlated to the gradient strength of a magnetic field, but also depends on the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction. By increasing the magnetic field gradient up to 0.1 mT nm⁻¹, the skyrmion can effectively overcome the skyrmion Hall effect, and meanwhile generate a breathing mode during the motion process under MFG = 1.0 mT nm⁻¹ and DMI = 2.8 mJ m⁻³. The present study could provide an alternative approach to regulate the skyrmion at micro/nanoscales by using a gradient magnetic field. (paper)