Spin-orbit torques in ultrathin ferromagnetic metal layers

Ioan Mihai Miron; Gilles Gaudin; Stéphane Auffret; Bernard Rodmacq; Alain Schuhl; Stefania Pizzini; Jan Vogel; Pietro Gambardella

doi:10.1117/12.862356

3 September 2010 Spin-orbit torques in ultrathin ferromagnetic metal layers

Ioan Mihai Miron, Gilles Gaudin, Stéphane Auffret, Bernard Rodmacq, Alain Schuhl, Stefania Pizzini, Jan Vogel, Pietro Gambardella

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7760, Spintronics III; 77600Z (2010) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.862356
Event: SPIE NanoScience + Engineering, 2010, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

The spin-orbit interaction constitutes a weak but essential perturbation to the Hamiltonian of magnetic systems. Linking spins with atomic structure, spin-orbit coupling assumes a prominent role in structures of reduced dimensionality, where it defines the internal anisotropy fields. In this paper, we discuss interface-enhanced spinorbit effects that arise in metallic multilayers in the presence of an electric current. We demonstrate that a novel type of spin torque can be induced in ferromagnetic metal films lacking structure inversion symmetry through the Rashba effect. Owing to the combination of spin-orbit and exchange interactions, we show that electrons flowing in the plane of a Co layer with asymmetric Pt and AlO_x interfaces produce an effective transverse magnetic field of 1 T per 10⁸ A/cm² of applied current. This torque does not require a current flowing through noncollinear magnetic structures, opening new perspectives for room temperature applications in spintronics.

Citation Download Citation

Ioan Mihai Miron, Gilles Gaudin, Stéphane Auffret, Bernard Rodmacq, Alain Schuhl, Stefania Pizzini, Jan Vogel, and Pietro Gambardella "Spin-orbit torques in ultrathin ferromagnetic metal layers", Proc. SPIE 7760, Spintronics III, 77600Z (3 September 2010); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.862356

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