Interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction within the scope of electron attraction in metallic magnetic films

Abstract The interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (iDMI) plays a crucial role in the formation of chiral objects such as magnetic skyrmions and chiral domain walls. Despite its significance, the origin of the iDMI remains debated among several possible mechanisms. Here we report experimental observations demonstrating a correlation between the parameters related to the electron attraction and iDMI through systematic measurement of the iDMI on various materials. Among these parameters, the Allen-scale electronegativity of the non-magnetic layer adjacent to the magnetic layer, exhibits the strongest correlation with iDMI. Additionally, the electron affinity also exhibits noticeable correlation with iDMI. It indicates that electron attraction-related phenomena, such as electric dipole moment, can be connected to the emergence mechanism of iDMI. These results offer valuable insights into the origin of the iDMI and provide guidance for selecting suitable materials to enhance its emergence.