Curvature induced modifications of chirality and magnetic configuration in perpendicular magnetized films (2506.05938v1)

Abstract: Designing curvature in three-dimensional (3D) magnetic nanostructures enables controlled manipulation of local energy landscapes and subsequent modifications of noncollinear spin textures with unconventional magnetic properties that could be relevant for next-generation spintronic devices. Here, we experimentally investigate 3D spin textures in a Co/Pd multilayer film with strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA), deposited onto curved Cu nanowire meshes with diameters as small as 50 nm and lengths of several microns. Utilizing magnetic soft X-ray nanotomography at the MISTRAL beamline (ALBA, Spain), we achieve reconstructions of 3D magnetic domain patterns at approximately 30 nm spatial resolution by exploiting XMCD contrast at the Co L3 edge. This approach provides detailed information on both the orientation and magnitude of magnetization within the film. Our results reveal that interfacial anisotropy in the Co/Pd multilayers drives the magnetization to align with the local surface normal. In contrast to typical labyrinthine domains observed in planar films, the presence of curved nanowires significantly alters the domain structure, with domains preferentially aligning along the nanowire axis in close proximity, while adopting random orientations farther away. We report direct experimental observation of curvature induced DMI, which is quantified to be approximately one-third of the intrinsic DMI in Co/Pd stacks. The curvature induced DMI enhances the stability of N\'eel-type domain walls. Micromagnetic simulations support the experimental observations. Our findings demonstrate that introducing curvature into magnetic nanostructures provides a powerful strategy for tailoring complex magnetic behaviors, paving the way for the design of advanced 3D racetrack memory and neuromorphic computing devices.