Probing of Single-Interface Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction

Abstract

The interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) is a fundamental antisymmetric exchange interaction that favors nonlinear spin orders and emerges prominently at interfaces in ultrathin magnetic films. The lack of single-interface resolution obscures both the magnitude and sign of the DMI at the interface of interest, and remains a challenge. Herein, we report the probing of a Pt/Co single-interface DMI under isolated interface conditions. Uncapped Co films on Pt were investigated in a vacuum using a magneto-optical Kerr microscope to observe the magnetic domains. The single-interface DMI is clearly revealed by the asymmetric domain-wall speed measurements. By resolving the Pt/Co single-interface DMI with systematic thickness control at a subatomic level, we confirm that subtle changes can be captured at the interface. This method offers a powerful tool for probing diverse interface-specific properties and is expected to advance the understanding of interface-driven physics with broad implications for chiral spin-orbitronics.