42 research outputs found
Ultrafast magnetization switching by spin-orbit torques
Spin-orbit torques induced by spin Hall and interfacial effects in heavy
metal/ferromagnetic bilayers allow for a switching geometry based on in-plane
current injection. Using this geometry, we demonstrate deterministic
magnetization reversal by current pulses ranging from 180~ps to ms in
Pt/Co/AlOx dots with lateral dimensions of 90~nm. We characterize the switching
probability and critical current as function of pulse length, amplitude,
and external field. Our data evidence two distinct regimes: a short-time
intrinsic regime, where scales linearly with the inverse of the pulse
length, and a long-time thermally assisted regime where varies weakly.
Both regimes are consistent with magnetization reversal proceeding by
nucleation and fast propagation of domains. We find that is a factor 3-4
smaller compared to a single domain model and that the incubation time is
negligibly small, which is a hallmark feature of spin-orbit torques
Symmetry and magnitude of spin-orbit torques in ferromagnetic heterostructures
Current-induced spin torques are of great interest to manipulate the
orientation of nanomagnets without applying external magnetic fields. They find
direct application in non-volatile data storage and logic devices, and provide
insight into fundamental processes related to the interdependence between
charge and spin transport. Recent demonstrations of magnetization switching
induced by in-plane current injection in ferromagnetic heterostructures have
drawn attention to a class of spin torques based on orbital-to-spin momentum
transfer, which is alternative to pure spin transfer torque (STT) between
noncollinear magnetic layers and amenable to more diversified device functions.
Due to the limited number of studies, however, there is still no consensus on
the symmetry, magnitude, and origin of spin-orbit torques (SOTs). Here we
report on the quantitative vector measurement of SOTs in Pt/Co/AlO trilayers
using harmonic analysis of the anomalous and planar Hall effects as a function
of the applied current and magnetization direction. We provide an all-purpose
scheme to measure the amplitude and direction of SOTs for any arbitrary
orientation of the magnetization, including corrections due to the interplay of
Hall and thermoelectric effects. Based on general space and time inversion
symmetry arguments, we show that asymmetric heterostructures allow for two
different SOTs having odd and even behavior with respect to magnetization
reversal. Our results reveal a scenario that goes beyond established models of
the Rashba and spin Hall contributions to SOTs. The even SOT is STT-like but
stronger than expected from the spin Hall effect in Pt. The odd SOT is composed
of a constant field-like term and an additional component, which is strongly
anisotropic and does not correspond to a simple Rashba field.Comment: Supplementary Informations follows Paper in the .pdf fil
Chirality-induced asymmetric magnetic nucleation in Pt/Co/AlOx ultrathin microstructures
The nucleation of reversed magnetic domains in Pt/Co/AlO
microstructures with perpendicular anisotropy was studied experimentally in the
presence of an in-plane magnetic field. For large enough in-plane field,
nucleation was observed preferentially at an edge of the sample normal to this
field. The position at which nucleation takes place was observed to depend in a
chiral way on the initial magnetization and applied field directions. An
explanation of these results is proposed, based on the existence of a sizable
Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in this sample. Another consequence of this
interaction is that the energy of domain walls can become negative for in-plane
fields smaller than the effective anisotropy field.Comment: Published version, Physical Review Letters 113, 047203 (2014
Direct Observation of Massless Domain Wall Dynamics in Nanostripes with Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy
Domain wall motion induced by nanosecond current pulses in nanostripes with
perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (Pt/Co/AlO) is shown to exhibit
negligible inertia. Time-resolved magnetic microscopy during current pulses
reveals that the domain walls start moving, with a constant speed, as soon as
the current reaches a constant amplitude, and no or little motion takes place
after the end of the pulse. The very low 'mass' of these domain walls is
attributed to the combination of their narrow width and high damping parameter
. Such a small inertia should allow accurate control of domain wall
motion, by tuning the duration and amplitude of the current pulses
Fieldlike and antidamping spin-orbit torques in as-grown and annealed Ta/CoFeB/MgO layers
Under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 3.0 (CC-BY).-- et al.We present a comprehensive study of the current-induced spin-orbit torques in perpendicularly magnetized Ta/CoFeB/MgO layers. The samples were annealed in steps up to 300 °C and characterized using x-ray-absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, resistivity, and Hall effect measurements. By performing adiabatic harmonic Hall voltage measurements, we show that the transverse (fieldlike) and longitudinal (antidampinglike) spin-orbit torques are composed of constant and magnetization-dependent contributions, both of which vary strongly with annealing. Such variations correlate with changes of the saturation magnetization and magnetic anisotropy and are assigned to chemical and structural modifications of the layers. The relative variation of the constant and anisotropic torque terms as a function of annealing temperature is opposite for the fieldlike and antidamping torques. Measurements of the switching probability using sub-μs current pulses show that the critical current increases with the magnetic anisotropy of the layers, whereas the switching efficiency, measured as the ratio of magnetic anisotropy energy and pulse energy, decreases. The optimal annealing temperature to achieve maximum magnetic anisotropy, saturation magnetization, and switching efficiency is determined to be between 240 and 270°C.This work was supported by the the European Commission under the Seventh Framework Programme (GA 318144, SPOT), the European Research Council (StG 203239 NOMAD), the Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (MAT2010-15659), and the Swiss Competence Centre for Materials Science and Technology (CCMX).Peer Reviewe
Chiral damping of magnetic domain walls
Structural symmetry breaking in magnetic materials is responsible for a
variety of outstanding physical phenomena. Examples range from the existence of
multiferroics, to current induced spin orbit torques (SOT) and the formation of
topological magnetic structures. In this letter we bring into light a novel
effect of the structural inversion asymmetry (SIA): a chiral damping mechanism.
This phenomenon is evidenced by measuring the field driven domain wall (DW)
motion in perpendicularly magnetized asymmetric Pt/Co/Pt trilayers. The
difficulty in evidencing the chiral damping is that the ensuing DW dynamics
exhibit identical spatial symmetry to those expected from the
Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI). Despite this fundamental resemblance,
the two scenarios are differentiated by their time reversal properties: while
DMI is a conservative effect that can be modeled by an effective field, the
chiral damping is purely dissipative and has no influence on the equilibrium
magnetic texture. When the DW motion is modulated by an in-plane magnetic
field, it reveals the structure of the internal fields experienced by the DWs,
allowing to distinguish the physical mechanism. The observation of the chiral
damping, not only enriches the spectrum of physical phenomena engendered by the
SIA, but since it can coexists with DMI it is essential for conceiving DW and
skyrmion devices
Fieldlike and antidamping spin-orbit torques in as-grown and annealed Ta/CoFeB/MgO layers
We present a comprehensive study of the current-induced spin-orbit torques in
perpendicularly magnetized Ta/CoFeB/MgO layers. The samples were annealed in
steps up to 300 degrees C and characterized using x-ray absorption
spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy, resistivity, and Hall effect
measurements. By performing adiabatic harmonic Hall voltage measurements, we
show that the transverse (field-like) and longitudinal (antidamping-like)
spin-orbit torques are composed of constant and magnetization-dependent
contributions, both of which vary strongly with annealing. Such variations
correlate with changes of the saturation magnetization and magnetic anisotropy
and are assigned to chemical and structural modifications of the layers. The
relative variation of the constant and anisotropic torque terms as a function
of annealing temperature is opposite for the field-like and antidamping
torques. Measurements of the switching probability using sub-{\mu}s current
pulses show that the critical current increases with the magnetic anisotropy of
the layers, whereas the switching efficiency, measured as the ratio of magnetic
anisotropy energy and pulse energy, decreases. The optimal annealing
temperature to achieve maximum magnetic anisotropy, saturation magnetization,
and switching efficiency is determined to be between 240 degrees and 270
degrees C
Room temperature chiral magnetic skyrmion in ultrathin magnetic nanostructures
Magnetic skyrmions are chiral spin structures with a whirling configuration.
Their topological properties, nanometer size and the fact that they can be
moved by small current densities have opened a new paradigm for the
manipulation of magnetisation at the nanoscale. To date, chiral skyrmion
structures have been experimentally demonstrated only in bulk materials and in
epitaxial ultrathin films and under external magnetic field or at low
temperature. Here, we report on the observation of stable skyrmions in
sputtered ultrathin Pt/Co/MgO nanostructures, at room temperature and zero
applied magnetic field. We use high lateral resolution X-ray magnetic circular
dichroism microscopy to image their chiral N\'eel internal structure which we
explain as due to the large strength of the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction
as revealed by spin wave spectroscopy measurements. Our results are
substantiated by micromagnetic simulations and numerical models, which allow
the identification of the physical mechanisms governing the size and stability
of the skyrmions.Comment: Submitted version. Extended version to appear in Nature
Nanotechnolog
Perpendicular switching of a single ferromagnetic layer induced by in-plane current injection
International audienceModern computing technology is based on writing, storing and retrieving information encoded as magnetic bits. Although the giant magnetoresistance effect has improved the electrical read out of memory elements, magnetic writing remains the object of major research efforts. Despite several reports of methods to reverse the polarity of nanosized magnets by means of local electric fields and currents, the simple reversal of a high-coercivity, single-layer ferromagnet remains a challenge. Materials with large coercivity and perpendicular magnetic anisotropy represent the mainstay of data storage media, owing to their ability to retain a stable magnetization state over long periods of time and their amenability to miniaturization. However, the same anisotropy properties that make a material attractive for storage also make it hard to write to. Here we demonstrate switching of a perpendicularly magnetized cobalt dot driven by in-plane current injection at room temperature. Our device is composed of a thin cobalt layer with strong perpendicular anisotropy and Rashba interaction induced by asymmetric platinum and AlOx interface layers. The effective switching field is orthogonal to the direction of the magnetization and to the Rashba field. The symmetry of the switching field is consistent with the spin accumulation induced by the Rashba interaction and the spin-dependent mobility observed in non-magnetic semiconductors as well as with the torque induced by the spin Hall effect in the platinum layer. Our measurements indicate that the switching efficiency increases with the magnetic anisotropy of the cobalt layer and the oxidation of the aluminium layer, which is uppermost, suggesting that the Rashba interaction has a key role in the reversal mechanism. To prove the potential of in-plane current switching for spintronic applications, we construct a reprogrammable magnetic switch that can be integrated into non-volatile memory and logic architectures. This device is simple, scalable and compatible with present-day magnetic recording technolog