  A recent theory by Chen and Zhang [Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 126602 (2015)]
predicts strongly anisotropic damping due to interfacial spin-orbit coupling in
ultrathin magnetic films. Interfacial Gilbert-type relaxation, due to the spin
pumping effect, is predicted to be significantly larger for magnetization
oriented parallel to compared with perpendicular to the film plane. Here, we
have measured the anisotropy in the Pt/Ni$_{81}$Fe$_{19}$/Pt system via
variable-frequency, swept-field ferromagnetic resonance (FMR). We find a very
small anisotropy of enhanced Gilbert damping with sign opposite to the
prediction from the Rashba effect at the FM/Pt interface. The results are
contrary to the predicted anisotropy and suggest that a mechanism separate from
Rashba spin-orbit coupling causes the rapid onset of spin-current absorption in
Pt.
