Controlled domain evolution in magnetic heterostructures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and interfacial DMI*

Controlled evolution of magnetic textures in films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) is potentially important for spintronic applications such as domain wall logic in unpatterned structures and dynamic magnonic structures. In this work we use magneto-optic Kerr microscopy to study domain evolution in CoNi and CoNiPt multilayer heterostructures in presence of out-of-plane and in-plane magnetic fields. While bubble domains form in 1-4 layer structures, labyrinth-like domains are characteristic for thicker films (e.g. 10 repetitions).¹ Interfacial Dzyaloshinsky Moriya Interaction in these materials result in asymmetric domain wall propagation controlled by in-plane magnetic field.² We demonstrate capability of controlled stripe domain growth at any direction defined by the in-plane magnetic field as well as forming more complex magnetic textures “drawn” by stripe domains, such as variable angle domain intersection, circles and circle segments. We discuss the dipole, exchange and DMI interaction effects on the domain evolution in studied samples.