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

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.

References in corpus (8)

• Emergent Phenomena Induced by Spin-Orbit Coupling at Surfaces and Interfaces
• Matching domain wall configuration and spin-orbit torques for very efficient domain-wall motion
• Direct observation of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in a Pt/Co/Ni film
• Interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in perpendicularly-magnetized Pt/Co/AlO${}_x$ ultrathin films measured by Brillouin light spectroscopy
• Current-induced spin torques on single GdFeCo magnetic layers
• Observation of strong bulk damping-like spin-orbit torque in chemically disordered ferromagnetic single layers
• Tuning interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions in thin amorphous ferrimagnetic alloys
• Domain wall dynamics in antiferromagnetically-coupled double-lattice systems

Cited by in corpus (8)

• From Early Theories of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interactions in Metallic Systems to Today's Novel Roads
• Gradient-induced Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction
• Ultrafast element- and depth-resolved magnetization dynamics probed by transverse magneto-optical Kerr effect spectroscopy in the soft x-ray range
• Estimation of spin-orbit torques in the presence of current-induced magnon creation and annihilation
• Ferrimagnet GdFeCo characterization for spin-orbitronics: large field-like and damping-like torques
• Giant orbital magnetoresistance in the antiferromagnet CoO driven by dynamic orbital angular momentum interaction
• Asymmetric defect distribution generates bulk Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in Pt/Co/Pt
• Spin current symmetries generated by GdFeCo ferrimagnet across its magnetisation compensation temperature