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arXiv · 2007.07569

Spin-orbit coupling in single layer ferrimagnets: direct observation of spin-orbit torques and chiral spin textures

Sachin Krishnia·Eloi Haltz·Léo Berges·Lucia Aballe·Michael Foerster·Laura Bocher·Raphaël Weil·André Thiaville·João Sampaio·Alexandra Mougin
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Abstract

We demonstrate that effects of spin-orbit coupling and inversion asymmetry exist in a single GdFeCo ferrimagnetic layer, even without a heavy metal interface. We use electric transport measurements to quantify the spin-orbit torques. We measure the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction using Brillouin light scattering measurement technique, and we observe the resulting chiral magnetic textures using x-ray PEEM microscopy. We attribute these effects to a composition variation along the thickness, that we observed by scanning transmission electron microscopy. We show that these effects can be optimized by varying the GdFeCo thickness or by combining them with interfacial effects.

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Sachin Krishnia, Eloi Haltz, Léo Berges, Lucia Aballe, Michael Foerster, Laura Bocher, Raphaël Weil, André Thiaville, João Sampaio, Alexandra Mougin. 2020-07-15. Spin-orbit coupling in single layer ferrimagnets: direct observation of spin-orbit torques and chiral spin textures. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.16.024040

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