Scanning for skyrmions: Scientists directly image skyrmion cluster state transitions in iron-germanium nanodisks

Magnetic skyrmions, or noncoplanar swirling spin textures, are particle-like spin configurations with an integer topological charge that promise faster, denser memory storage. The hurdle to overcome in creating such devices is being able to understand single skyrmions in patterned nanoelements – but despite theoretical progress, real-world experimental studies of these entities have remained elusive. Recently, however, scientists at Chinese Academy of Science, Hefei, Fudan University, Shan