Magnetic skyrmions in thickness-modulated films

The possibility of the formation of lattices of magnetic skyrmions in thickness-modulated films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy has been studied experimentally. The samples constitute a regular rectangular lattice (300 nm in period) of cylindrical bulges (150 nm in diameter) formed in a Co/Pt multilayer film by electron lithography. The spatial symmetry of a magnetic force microscopy signal indicates the formation of magnetic skyrmions in the process of remagnetization of the system. Formed skyrmions remain stable in the absence of an external magnetic field. The experimental data are in good agreement with the numerical micromagnetic simulation of the system.