Magnetic skyrmions extend their potential to neuromorphic computing for future AI

Magnetic skyrmions are topological spin nanostructures with appealing physical characteristics including nano-meter size, inherent stability, and efficient current-induced manipulations, which incurred large interest across diverse scientific and technological community for skyrmion-based future electronic devices, where each skyrmion is employed as individual “bit”. As such, mainstream of device research has focused to replace conventional “bit”-based devices, e.g. memory and logic.
However, particle-like behavior of skyrmions, along with other fascinating characteristics, also allows skyrmion-device to be an excellent candidate for neuromorphic computing by realizing artificial synapses. For example, as multiple skyrmions can be easily accumulated or decumulated by electrical manipulations, which gives rise to corresponding resistance changes, synaptic weights in skyrmion-based synapses can thus be controlled electrically in a efficient way at low voltages. In this work published in Nature Electronics, we experimentally present such skyrmion-based artificial synaptic device designed for bio-inspired neuromorphic computing and thus artificial neural network (ANN).
We studied magnetic skyrmions formed in Pt/GdFeCo/MgO ferrimagnetic multilayer stacks using synchrotron-based scanning transmission X-ray microscopy (STXM) at PolLux beamline in Swiss Light Source (SLS). The device was fabricated as Hall-bar structure to read analog resistance changes, i.e. synaptic weights, using the anomalous Hall resistance (AMR) of perpendicularly magnetized multilayer. Simultaneous STXM imaging was performed to directly observe the corresponding skyrmion states. We demonstrate that magnetic skyrmions can indeed be efficiently accumulated and dissipated within a Hall-cross area with varying resistance in analog fashion, where each resistance state depends on the controlled number of skyrmions. This resistance construction and destruction scheme, often referred as ‘potentiation’ and ‘depression’, verify the key processes of an artificial synapse.
To highlight the potential of this approach, we then used both device-level and system-level simulations on the neuromorphic task of skyrmion synapse-based artificial neural network: pattern recognition using MNIST handwritten dataset. In a device-level simulation where experimentally acquired characteristics of skyrmion synapses are implemented, we achieve the pattern recognition accuracy of 89%, which is comparable to the software-based ideal training accuracy of 93 %. System-level simulation then reveals that skyrmion synapse-based neuromorphic computing could have some advantages on important metrics including linearity, device-to-device variability, endurance and retention, compared with other established technologies (e.g. PCRAM/RRAM-based synaseps), Together, we believe our experimental demonstration highlights the potential of using topological magnetic textures for multi-level, synapse-based neuromorphic computing devices for future advanced AI systems.
For more information, please see our recent publication in Nature Electronics:
“Skyrmion-based artificial synapses for neuromorphic computing”:
(https://www.nature.com/articles/s41928-020-0385-0)

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Nature Electronics
This journal publishes both fundamental and applied research across all areas of electronics, from the study of novel phenomena and devices, to the design, construction and wider application of electronic circuits.
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