Magnetization statics and dynamics in (Ir/Co/Pt)6 multilayers with Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction

Abstract

Magnetic multilayers of (Ir/Co/Pt)6 with interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (IDMI) were deposited by magnetron sputtering with Co thickness d=1.8 nm. Exploiting magneto-optical Kerr effect in longitudinal mode microscopy, magnetic force microscopy, and vibrating sample magnetometry, the magnetic field-driven evolution of domain structures and magnetization hysteresis loops have been studied. The existence of weak stripe domains structure was deduced – tens micrometers size domains with in-plane “core” magnetization modulated by hundred of nanometers domains with out-of-plane magnetization. Micromagnetic simulations interpreted such magnetization distribution. Quantitative evaluation of IDMI was carried out using Brillouin light scattering (BLS) spectroscopy as the difference between Stokes and anti-Stokes peak frequencies Δf. Due to the additive nature of IDMI, the asymmetric combination of Ir and Pt covers led to large values of effective IDMI energy density Deff. It was found that Stokes and anti-Stokes frequencies as well as Δf, measured as a function of in-plane applied magnetic field, show hysteresis. These results are explained under the consideration of the influence of IDMI on the dynamics of the in-plane magnetized “core” with weak stripe domains.