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Spin–orbit torque-assisted switching in magnetic insulator thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Author

Listed:
  • Peng Li

    (Colorado State University)

  • Tao Liu

    (Colorado State University)

  • Houchen Chang

    (Colorado State University)

  • Alan Kalitsov

    (MINT Center, University of Alabama)

  • Wei Zhang

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Gyorgy Csaba

    (University of Notre Dame)

  • Wei Li

    (Colorado State University)

  • Daniel Richardson

    (Colorado State University)

  • August DeMann

    (Colorado State University)

  • Gaurab Rimal

    (University of Wyoming)

  • Himadri Dey

    (University of Notre Dame)

  • J. S. Jiang

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Wolfgang Porod

    (University of Notre Dame)

  • Stuart B. Field

    (Colorado State University)

  • Jinke Tang

    (University of Wyoming)

  • Mario C. Marconi

    (Colorado State University)

  • Axel Hoffmann

    (Argonne National Laboratory)

  • Oleg Mryasov

    (MINT Center, University of Alabama)

  • Mingzhong Wu

    (Colorado State University)

Abstract

As an in-plane charge current flows in a heavy metal film with spin–orbit coupling, it produces a torque on and thereby switches the magnetization in a neighbouring ferromagnetic metal film. Such spin–orbit torque (SOT)-induced switching has been studied extensively in recent years and has shown higher efficiency than switching using conventional spin-transfer torque. Here we report the SOT-assisted switching in heavy metal/magnetic insulator systems. The experiments used a Pt/BaFe12O19 bilayer where the BaFe12O19 layer exhibits perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. As a charge current is passed through the Pt film, it produces a SOT that can control the up and down states of the remnant magnetization in the BaFe12O19 film when the film is magnetized by an in-plane magnetic field. It can reduce or increase the switching field of the BaFe12O19 film by as much as about 500 Oe when the film is switched with an out-of-plane field.

Suggested Citation

  • Peng Li & Tao Liu & Houchen Chang & Alan Kalitsov & Wei Zhang & Gyorgy Csaba & Wei Li & Daniel Richardson & August DeMann & Gaurab Rimal & Himadri Dey & J. S. Jiang & Wolfgang Porod & Stuart B. Field , 2016. "Spin–orbit torque-assisted switching in magnetic insulator thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 1-8, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:7:y:2016:i:1:d:10.1038_ncomms12688
    DOI: 10.1038/ncomms12688
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