All-optical switching of magnetic domains in Co/Gd heterostructures with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction

TL;DR

This paper investigates all-optical switching of magnetic domains in Co/Gd heterostructures with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction, revealing dynamics of domain manipulation and stability without external magnetic fields, relevant for spintronic-photonic device development.

Contribution

It demonstrates single-pulse all-optical toggle switching and asymmetric bubble expansion in Co/Gd multilayers, highlighting the role of DMI and domain stability analysis.

Findings

Successful all-optical toggle switching without external fields

Observation of asymmetric bubble expansion dynamics

Comparison of domain stability with analytical and simulation models

Abstract

Given the development of hybrid spintronic-photonic devices and chiral magnetic structures, a combined interest in all-optical switching (AOS) of magnetization and current-induced domain wall motion in synthetic ferrimagnetic structures with strong Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction (DMI) is emerging. In this study, we report a study on single-pulse all-optical toggle switching and asymmetric bubble expansion in specially engineered Co/Gd-based multilayer structures. In the absence of any external magnetic fields, we look into the AOS properties and the potential role of the DMI on the AOS process as well as the stability of optically written micro-magnetic domains. Particularly, interesting dynamics are observed in moon-shaped structures written by two successive laser pulses. The stability of domains resulting from an interplay of the dipolar interaction and domain-wall energy are compared to simple analytical models and micromagnetic simulations.