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

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 Néel-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.