Dynamics of all-optically switched magnetic domains in Co/Gd heterostructures with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction

Given the development of hybrid spintronic-photonic devices and optical manipulation of chiral magnetic textures, a combined interest in single-pulse 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 work, we explore the role of the DMI on the AOS process as well as the stability of optically written micromagnetic domains using specially engineered Co/Gd-based multilayer structures. Quantitative insight is obtained by measuring the interesting dynamics in moon-shaped structures written by two successive laser pulses. The stability of domains resulting from an interplay between the dipolar interaction and domain-wall energy are compared to simple analytical models and micromagnetic simulations. A shortening process occurring at ns time scale is confirmed by our computational results, and a stabilizing role of DMI on microscopic AOS-written domains is experimentally demonstrated.