ABSTRACT Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures characterized by their whirling structure, high stability, and potential for next‐generation magnetic devices. However, their practical implementation has been hindered by the absence of methods for ultrafast and energy‐efficient skyrmion writing and erasure. We theoretically propose the generation of a picosecond‐scale photoinduced radial current that produces an azimuthally polarized spin–orbit torque in a heavy‐metal/ferromagnet heterostructure. This approach enables ultrafast (< 50 ps) generation and controlled transitions between four distinct types of topological skyrmionic quasiparticles. Our results establish a versatile platform for optically controlled topological magnetism and open pathways for high‐speed, low‐power spin‐based memory and logic technologies.
Zhang et al. (Sat,) studied this question.