Work

Asymmetric magnetic domain-wall motion by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction

Year: 2013

Type: article

Abstract: We demonstrate here that ultrathin ferromagnetic Pt/Co/Pt films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy exhibit a sizable Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) effect. Such a DMI effect modifies the domain-wall (DW) energy density and consequently, results in an asymmetric DW expansion driven by an out-of-plane magnetic field under an in-plane magnetic field bias. From an analysis of the asymmetry, the DMI effect is estimated to be strong enough for the DW to remain in the N\'eel-type configuration in contrast to the general expectations of these materials. Our findings emphasize the critical role of the DMI effect on the DW dynamics as the underlying physics of the asymmetries that are often observed in spin-transfer-related phenomena.

Source: Physical Review B

DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.88.214401

Authors: Soong-Geun Je, Duck-Ho Kim, Sang-Cheol Yoo, Byoung-Chul Min, Kyung-Jin Lee, Sug-Bong Choe

Institutions: Seoul National University, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, Korea University

Language: English

Topic: Magnetic properties of thin films

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning, Korea Institute of Science and Technology, National Research Foundation of Korea