Chiral magnetic structures, such as spin spirals, chiral domain walls and skyrmions, are intensively investigated due to their fascinating properties such as potentially enhanced stability and efficient spin-orbit torque driven dynamics. These structures are stabilized by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) that favours a chiral winding of the magnetisation.Cir
In a recent work, circularly polarized light pulses of the FERMI free-electron laser (FEL) has been used to disclose the dynamics of chiral order on ps time scale. After an optical excitation, the researchers observe a faster recovery of the chirality within the domain walls compared to the ferromagnetic order in the domains. The study paves the way for future investigations of fundamental aspects such as, e.g., the dependence of the timescales of the chiral order build-up on the absolute strength of the DMI. The control of the DMI can finally allow the manipulation at ultrafast timescale of chiral topological objects such as skyrmions and pave the path to applications in the field of ultrafast chiral spintronics.
Rad more on the Elettra website