Current-induced spin-orbit torque switching of chiral magnetization across a synthetic antiferromagnet with built-in planar asymmetry

The interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) holds promises for design and control of chiral spin textures in low-dimensional magnets with efficient current-driven dynamics. In this talk, we discuss about the nature and control of chiral magnetization across a synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) where an interlayer DMI is present between magnetic layers separated by a heavy-metal spacer. We first show the demonstration of the existence of interlayer DMI in our SAF with both inversion and in-plane asymmetry. We then show the study of current-induced spin-orbit torque (SOT) switching of magnetization in the SAF. The chiral nature of the interlayer DMI leads to an asymmetric SOT switching of magnetization under an in-plane magnetic field. According to our numerical studies, in the switching process, the effective field of the interlayer DMI switches its direction from antiparallel to parallel, or from parallel to antiparallel, to the direction of the damping-like field, respectively promoting or hindering the switching of magnetization. Finally, we will give an outlook of potential applications of our findings in future SOT and domain wall-based devices.