Even-Odd-Layer-Dependent Symmetry Breaking in Synthetic Antiferromagnets

In this work we examine synthetic antiferromagnetic structures consisting of two, three, and four antiferromagnetic coupled layers, i.e., bilayers, trilayers, and tetralayers. We vary the thickness of the ferromagnetic layers across all structures and, using a macrospin formalism, find that the nearest neighbor exchange interaction between layers is consistent across all structures for a given thickness. Our model and experimental results demonstrate significant differences in how the magnetostatic equilibrium states of even and odd-layered structures evolve as a function of the external field. Even layered structures continuously evolve from a collinear antiferromagnetic state to a spin canted non-collinear magnetic configuration that is mirror-symmetric about the external field. In contrast, odd-layered structures begin with a ferrimagnetic ground state; at a critical field, the ferrimagnetic ground state evolves into a non-collinear state with broken symmetry. Specifically, the magnetic moments found in the odd-layered samples possess stable static equilibrium states that are no longer mirror-symmetric about the external field after a critical field is reached. Our results reveal the rich behavior of synthetic antiferromagnets

All electrical manipulation of magnetization dynamics in a ferromagnet by antiferromagnets with anisotropic spin Hall effects

We investigate spin-orbit torques of metallic CuAu-I-type antiferromagnets using spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance tuned by a dc-bias current. The observed spin torques predominantly arise from diffusive transport of spin current generated by the spin Hall effect. We find a growth-orientation dependence of the spin torques by studying epitaxial samples, which may be correlated to the anisotropy of the spin Hall effect. The observed anisotropy is consistent with first-principles calculations on the intrinsic spin Hall effect. Our work demonstrates large tunable spin-orbit effects in magnetically-ordered materials.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. B (2015