Formation and switching of chiral magnetic field textures in three-dimensional gyroid nanostructures

Patterning of three-dimensional chiral nanostructures is an emerging route to engineering complex mag-netization textures in magnetic systems, leading to a host of new physics and functionalities. However, a deep understanding of geometry-induced effects in magnetic nanostructures remains elusive due to complex nonlinear interplay among the long-range magnetic interactions, confined geometries, mechanical and magne-tostatic multi-fields. Using finite-element-based micromagnetic simulations, we systematically investigate the magnetization textures and their responses under magnetic fields in Ni79Fe21 gyroid nanostructures with a wide range of solid volume fractions. Unusual magnetic field textures with the coexistence of left-and right-hand helices are formed in gyroid nanostructures in the absence of an external field. The ice rule governs the magnetic field textures in the gyroids with small solid volume fractions owing to the Y-shaped interconnections. However, a frustration of magnetic textures is observed in the gyroids with large solid volume fractions, which originates from the ice-rule breakdown due to the formation of antivortices. A critical value of volume fraction for the ice-rule breaking is determined at 30%. In addition, the switching of magnetic helical textures is demonstrated to be non-linearly dependent on the solid volume fraction of the gyroid nanostructures.

Automated summary

Patterning three-dimensional chiral nanostructures is a new approach to control complex magnetization textures in magnetic systems, leading to new physics and functionalities. However, understanding the geometry-induced effects in magnetic nanostructures remains challenging due to the complex interactions among magnetic interactions, confined geometries, and multi-fields. In this study, we use micromagnetic simulations to investigate the magnetization textures in Ni79Fe21 gyroid nanostructures with different solid volume fractions. Unusual magnetic field textures with the coexistence of left- and right-hand helices are formed in the gyroid nanostructures in the absence of an external field. The ice rule governs the magnetic field textures in gyroids with small solid volume fractions, while a frustration of magnetic textures is observed in gyroids with large solid volume fractions.