Spin-orbit torque magnetometry by wide-field magneto-optical Kerr effect

Abstract

Magneto-optical Kerr effect (MOKE) is an efficient approach to probe surface magnetization in thin film samples. Here we present a wide-field MOKE technique that adopts a K$\ddot{o}$hler illumination scheme to characterize the current-induced damping-like spin-orbit torque (DL-SOT) in micronsized and unpatterned magnetic heterostructures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Through a current-induced hysteresis loop shift analysis, we quantify the DL-SOT efficiency of a Ta-based heterostructure with bar-shaped geometry, Hall-cross geometry, and unpatterned geometry to be $|{\xi }_{DL}|\approx$ 0.08. The proposed wide-field MOKE approach therefore provides an instant and direct characterization of DL-SOT, without the need of any further interpretation on electrical signals.

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• Magnetization reversal and direct observation of magnetic domains on FePt thin films