Universal method for magnetic skyrmion bubble generation by controlling the stripe domain instability

Abstract Magnetic skyrmions, which are topological swirling spin textures, have drawn much attention in spintronics because of their use as an information carrier with distinct robustness rooted in their topological nature. Real-time generation of skyrmions is therefore imperative for realizing skyrmion-based spintronic devices. However, to date, experimental demonstration has been limited to exquisite works with well-tuned samples. Here, we report a method to generate skyrmions by driving the stripe instability via an in-plane magnetic field. We have demonstrated that the key parameter determining the stripe domain instability is the stripe width, regardless of other material parameters. This skyrmion generation method can be applicable to generic magnetic films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Our work will facilitate the development of skyrmion-based devices by offering a general method for controlling a large skyrmion population.