Indications for Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction at the Pd/Fe interface studied by in situ polarized neutron reflectometry

Sina Mayr, Jingfan Ye, Jochen Stahn, Birgit Knoblich, Oliver Klein, Dustin A. Gilbert, Manfred Albrecht, Amitesh Paul, Peter Böni, Wolfgang Kreuzpaintner

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6 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using in situ polarized neutron reflectometry, the depth-resolved evolution of the magnetism and structure in a Pd/Fe/Pd trilayer thin film is measured during growth. The initial film structure of Pd/Fe shows a small proximity-induced magnetism in the underlayer and a magnetization in the Fe layer of ≈1.6μB per Fe atom, less than the expected bulk value of 2.2μB. Deposition of the Pd capping layer initially follows an islandlike growth mode with subsequent coalescence. With increasing Pd deposition the Fe moment and the proximity-induced magnetism in the Pd capping layer decrease. After final deposition of the Pd capping layer, the magnetic profile is structurally and magnetically symmetric across the Fe layer, with magnetism induced in Pd up to 0.92 nm from the interface. Throughout the Pd deposition the Pd/Fe/Pd trilayer structure is becoming increasingly symmetric, a fact which points to a Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction as a likely cause of the observed magnetic behavior.

Original languageEnglish
Article number024404
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume101
Issue number2
DOIs
StatePublished - 8 Jan 2020

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