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

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

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

286 Citations (Scopus)

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 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.

Original languageEnglish
Article number214401
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume88
Issue number21
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013 Dec 2

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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