Fig. 4

Skyrmion deletion. a, Temporal evolution of the m_z, Q, and \({\mathrm{\Delta }}f_{{\mathrm{intrin}}}\) when a biaxial in-plane isotropic compressive strain of −0.24% is applied (see inset) to the 220-nm-diameter CoFeB disk and then kept on. The gray dots, as well as the downward arrows mark the initial state (t = 0), highest transitional state (t = t_ts), and the completion of switching (t = t_sw, at which the skyrmion diameter reduces to zero). b, Corresponding spin structures at these three time stages showing a strain-mediated skyrmion deletion. The interfacial DMI strength D = 0.75 mJ/m²