Spin-orbit torques promise ultraefficient magnetization switching used for advanced devices based on emergent quasiparticles such as domain walls and skyrmions. Recently, the spin structure dynamics, materials, and systems with tailored spin-orbit torques are being developed. A method, which allows one to detect the acting torques in a given system as a function of the magnetization direction is the torque magnetometry method based on a higher harmonics analysis of the anomalous Hall effect. Here we show that the effective fields acting on magnetic domain walls that govern the efficiency of their dynamics require a sophisticated analysis taking into account the full angular dependence of the torques. Using a one-dimensional model, we compared the spin-orbit torque efficiencies by depinning measurements and spin torque magnetometry. We show that the effective fields can be accurately determined and we find good agreement. Thus, our method allows us now to rapidly screen materials and predict the resulting quasiparticle dynamics.

• Received 22 December 2016
• Revised 11 May 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.95.224409