0000000000632885
AUTHOR
Maarten A. Brems
Circuits and excitations to enable Brownian token-based computing with skyrmions
Brownian computing exploits thermal motion of discrete signal carriers (tokens) for computations. In this paper we address two major challenges that hinder competitive realizations of circuits and application of Brownian token-based computing in actual devices for instance based on magnetic skyrmions. To overcome the problem that crossings generate for the fabrication of circuits, we design a crossing-free layout for a composite half-adder module. This layout greatly simplifies experimental implementations as wire crossings are effectively avoided. Additionally, our design is shorter to speed up computations compared to conventional designs. To address the key issue of slow computation base…
Coarse-graining collective skyrmion dynamics in confined geometries
Magnetic skyrmions are magnetic quasi-particles with enhanced stability and different manipulation mechanisms using external fields and currents making them promising candidates for future applications for instance in neuromorphic computing. Recently, several measurements and simulations have shown that thermally activated skyrmions in confined geometries, as they are necessary for device applications, arrange themselves predominantly based on commensurability effects. In this simulational study, based on the Thiele model, we investigate the enhanced dynamics and degenerate non-equilibrium steady state of a system in which the intrinsic skyrmion-skyrmion and skyrmion-boundary interaction co…
Perspective on unconventional computing using magnetic skyrmions
Learning and pattern recognition inevitably requires memory of previous events, a feature that conventional CMOS hardware needs to artificially simulate. Dynamical systems naturally provide the memory, complexity, and nonlinearity needed for a plethora of different unconventional computing approaches. In this perspective article, we focus on the unconventional computing concept of reservoir computing and provide an overview of key physical reservoir works reported. We focus on the promising platform of magnetic structures and, in particular, skyrmions, which potentially allow for low-power applications. Moreover, we discuss skyrmion-based implementations of Brownian computing, which has rec…
Skyrmion pinning energetics in thin film systems
AbstractA key issue for skyrmion dynamics and devices are pinning effects present in real systems. While posing a challenge for the realization of conventional skyrmionics devices, exploiting pinning effects can enable non-conventional computing approaches if the details of the pinning in real samples are quantified and understood. We demonstrate that using thermal skyrmion dynamics, we can characterize the pinning of a sample and we ascertain the spatially resolved energy landscape. To understand the mechanism of the pinning, we probe the strong skyrmion size and shape dependence of the pinning. Magnetic microscopy imaging demonstrates that in contrast to findings in previous investigation…
Brownian reservoir computing realized using geometrically confined skyrmion dynamics
AbstractReservoir computing (RC) has been considered as one of the key computational principles beyond von-Neumann computing. Magnetic skyrmions, topological particle-like spin textures in magnetic films are particularly promising for implementing RC, since they respond strongly nonlinearly to external stimuli and feature inherent multiscale dynamics. However, despite several theoretical proposals that exist for skyrmion reservoir computing, experimental realizations have been elusive until now. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate a conceptually new approach to skyrmion RC that leverages the thermally activated diffusive motion of skyrmions. By confining the electrically gated a…
Commensurability between Element Symmetry and the Number of Skyrmions Governing Skyrmion Diffusion in Confined Geometries
Magnetic skyrmions are topological magnetic structures, which exhibit quasi-particle properties and can show enhanced stability against perturbation from thermal noise. Recently, thermal Brownian diffusion of these quasi-particles has been found in continuous films and applications in unconventional computing have received significant attention, which however require structured elements. Thus, as the next necessary step, we here study skyrmion diffusion in confined geometries and find it to be qualitatively different: The diffusion is governed by the interplay between the total number of skyrmions and the structure geometry. In particular, we ascertain the effect of circular and triangular …