Magnetization switching driven by current-induced torque from weakly spin-orbit coupled Zr - Details

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Abstract：

Current-induced　magnetization　switching　(CIMS)　via　the　spin-orbit　torque　is　technologically　important　for　applications　of　spintronic　devices.　Existing　experimental　studies　are　focused　on　5d　heavy　metals　with　large　spin-orbit　coupling　but　theoretical　studies　indicate　that　3d　or　4d　light　metals　with　weak　spin-orbit　coupling　may　also　generate　sizable　torque　through　the　strong　orbital　Hall　effect.　However,　CIMS　has　seldom　been　experimentally　demonstrated　using　3d　or　4d　light　metals.　Here,　we　report　sizable　current-induced　torque　and　a　robust　CIMS　in　weakly　spin-orbit　coupled　Zr　based　perpendicular　magnetized　multilayers.　Current-induced　effective　torque　field　changes　its　sign　as　the　Zr　layer　thickness　varies,　indicating　the　competition　of　multiple　effects.　Possible　roles　of　the　orbital　Hall　effect　in　the　competition　are　discussed.　Our　findings　widen　the　material　scope　of　the　CIMS　and　imply　possible　applications　of　the　orbital　Hall　effect.　©　2020　authors.　Published　by　the　American　Physical　Society.　Published　by　the　American　Physical　Society　under　the　terms　of　the　Creative　Commons　Attribution　4.0　International　license.　Further　distribution　of　this　work　must　maintain　attribution　to　the　author(s)　and　the　published　article＇s　title,　journal　citation,　and　DOI.

Keyword：

Torque Heavy metals Light metals Magnetization Spin Hall effect Spin orbit coupling

Author Community：

[ 1 ] [Zheng, Z.C.]Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing; 100083, China
[ 2 ] [Guo, Q.X.]Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing; 100083, China
[ 3 ] [Guo, Q.X.]Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing; 100190, China
[ 4 ] [Jo, D.]Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang; 37673, Korea, Republic of
[ 5 ] [Go, D.]Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang; 37673, Korea, Republic of
[ 6 ] [Wang, L.H.]Institute of Microstructure and Property of Advanced Materials, Beijing Key Laboratory of Microstructure and Property of Advanced Materials, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing; 100124, China
[ 7 ] [Chen, H.C.]Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan; 523803, China
[ 8 ] [Yin, W.]Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan; 523803, China
[ 9 ] [Wang, X.M.]Collaborative Innovation Center of Advanced Steel Technology, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing; 100083, China
[ 10 ] [Yu, G.H.]Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing; 100083, China
[ 11 ] [He, W.]Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing; 100190, China
[ 12 ] [Lee, H.-W.]Department of Physics, Pohang University of Science and Technology, Pohang; 37673, Korea, Republic of
[ 13 ] [Teng, J.]Department of Materials Physics and Chemistry, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing; 100083, China
[ 14 ] [Zhu, T.]Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Matter Physics, Institute of Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing; 100190, China
[ 15 ] [Zhu, T.]Spallation Neutron Source Science Center, Dongguan; 523803, China
[ 16 ] [Zhu, T.]Songshan Lake Materials Laboratory, Dongguan; 523808, China