Observation of the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction via asymmetry in magnetization reversal

Abstract

Due to its importance in future spintronic-based memory devices, the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI) has been under intense investigation recently. Yet the feasibility of developing straightforward DMI measurement methods, especially using quasi-static tools, is debatable. Here, we present the observation of a shifted, asymmetric magnetization reversal manifested by interfacial DMI (iDMI) via magnetoresistance (MR) measurements for the first time. A shifted asymmetric MR response results from iDMI in an ultrathin symmetric unpatterned [Ni80Fe20/Pt] ×10 multilayer stack. Moreover, to reveal the presence of iDMI, we have experimentally seen iDMI from nonreciprocity in spin-wave dispersion using Brillouin light-scattering. Also, as a previously developed quasi-static method, we compare the MR results with the magneto-optical Kerr effect with the observed MR results. Our findings open pathways towards direct observation of iDMI in magnetic multilayers.