Spintronics are devices that operate leveraging the spin, an intrinsic form of angular momentum, of electrons. The ability to switch magnetic states is central to the functioning of these devices, as it ultimately allows them to represent binary digits (i.e., “0” and “1”) when processing or storing information.

Some of these devices rely on magnetic vortices, nanoscale whirlpool-like patterns of magnetization that influence the alignment of spins. These vortices possess a property known as helicity, which is essentially the direction in which they rotate.

Reliably switching the helicity of magnetic vortices could open new possibilities for both neuromorphic computing systems, devices that mimic the brain’s neural organization, and multi-state memories. So far, however, this has proved challenging, mainly because it requires a synchronized wave-like rotation of spins without disrupting the geometric structure of vortices.