Researchers Observe Skyrmions, A Possible Future For Storage

Skyrmions could be the path to faster, denser hard drives

By Brad Jones February 2, 2016

toshiba mn series hdds hard drive disk computer storage — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Researchers in Europe are reporting findings that could have a dramatic impact on future development of computer storage. Nanoscale chiral skyrmions have been observed at room temperature, and these infinitesimal structures might be the secret to a range of improvements to the hard drives we use today. The “room temperature” portion is important. The nanoscale structures were previously known to exist, but researchers hadn’t been able to produce them at acceptable temperatures.

Skyrmions are described as “quasi-particle magnetic spin configurations” shaped like a “whirling vortex” in a report on the research from Nanotech Web. If the scale of a skyrmion is difficult to grasp, then its practical application may seem completely impenetrable — so it’s perhaps easier to work backwards from its potential usage.

The size and asymmetrical shape of a skyrmion gives it a notable advantage over the magnetic domains that are commonly used at present. Since they could feasibly be packed much closer together, they could produce denser storage drives with higher capacities and faster read and write speeds.

It’s also being theorized that skyrmions could be used alongside nanostructures like nanowires to produce something like racetrack memory. This technology would work without the need for moving read-write heads, which would go some way toward making hard drives more durable in the event of drops and knocks. Ultimately, this could result in drives that combine the speed advantages of NAND flash with density that exceeds the best mechanical drives.

It’s been clear for some time that storage hardware manufacturing is in need of a new direction. Last year, Intel confirmed that advances in the field had slowed. However, there is great work being done around the world to find a solution, whether it be something like HP and Sandisk’s storage-class memory, skyrmions, or something wholly different.

However, don’t expect to be saving to skyrmions just yet — this research is being referred to as an “experimental breakthrough” and won’t be part of a consumer hard drive for some time. That being said, this sort of foundational research is a vital step towards meeting the storage needs of tomorrow.

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