Researchers observe unique chiral magnetic phenomenon

Tiny magnetic vortex structures, so-called skyrmions, have been researched intensively for some time for future energy-efficient space-saving data storage devices. Scientists at Forschungszentrum Jülich have now discovered another class of particle-like magnetic object that could take the development of data storage devices a significant step forward. The newly discovered magnetic particles make it possible to encode digital data directly with two different types of magnetic objects, namely with skyrmions and magnetic bobbers—if skyrmions are used to encode the number one, then the new structures could be used to encode the number zero.