Curvature Induced Modifications of Chirality and Magnetic Configuration in Perpendicular Films

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Designing 3D magnetic nanostructures is key for advanced spintronics.
• Curvature influences magnetic energy landscapes and spin textures.
• Controlling noncollinear spin textures is crucial for next-generation devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To experimentally investigate 3D magnetization textures in Co/Pd multilayers on curved surfaces.
• To understand how curvature affects magnetic domain structures.
• To explore curvature-induced phenomena like Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI).

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of Co/Pd multilayer films on curved Cu nanowire meshes (50 nm diameter).
• Magnetic soft X-ray nanotomography for 3D magnetic domain reconstruction (~30 nm resolution).
• Micromagnetic simulations for theoretical support.

Main Results:

• Magnetization aligns with the local surface normal due to interfacial anisotropy.
• Curved nanowires induce preferential domain alignment along the axis.
• Direct observation and quantification of curvature-induced DMI (approx. 1/3 of intrinsic DMI).
• Curvature-induced DMI enhances Néel-type domain wall stability.

Conclusions:

• Introducing curvature is a powerful method to tailor magnetic nanostructures.
• Curved magnetic films exhibit unique domain behaviors compared to planar films.
• Findings pave the way for 3D racetrack memory and neuromorphic computing devices.