Tuning Interfacial Spins in Antiferromagnetic–Ferromagnetic–Heavy-Metal Heterostructures via Spin-Orbit Torque

Wang, K. Y.; Liu, X. H.; Zhou, Z. P.; Edmonds, K. W.

Abstract

Antiferromagnets are outstanding candidates for the next generation of spintronic applications, with great potential for downscaling and decreasing power consumption. Recently, the manipulation of bulk properties of antiferromagnets has been realized by several different approaches. However, the interfacial spin order of antiferromagnets is an important integral part of spintronic devices, and thus, the successful control of interfacial antiferromagnetic spins is urgently desired. Here, we report the high controllability of interfacial spins in antiferromagnetic–ferromagnetic–heavy-metal heterostructure devices using spin-orbit torque (SOT) assisted by perpendicular or longitudinal magnetic fields. Switching of the interfacial spins from one direction to another through multiple intermediate states is demonstrated. The field-free SOT-induced reorientation of antiferromagnetic interfacial spins is also observed, which we attribute to the effective built-in out-of-plane field due to unequal upward and downward interfacial spin populations. Our work provides a precise way to modulate the interfacial spins at an antiferromagnet/ferromagnet interface via SOT, which will greatly promote innovative designs for next-generation spintronic devices.

Citation

Wang, K. Y., Liu, X. H., Zhou, Z. P., & Edmonds, K. W. (2020). Tuning Interfacial Spins in Antiferromagnetic–Ferromagnetic–Heavy-Metal Heterostructures via Spin-Orbit Torque. Physical Review Applied, 13(1), https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.13.014059

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 9, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Jan 29, 2020
• Publication Date: Jan 29, 2020
• Deposit Date: Feb 14, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 14, 2020
• Journal: Physical Review Applied
• Electronic ISSN: 2331-7019
• Publisher: American Physical Society
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 13
• Issue: 1
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevapplied.13.014059
• Keywords: Anomalous Hall effect ; Spin torque ; Spin-orbit coupling ; Spintronics ; Surface & interfacial phenomena
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/3959566
• Publisher URL: https://journals.aps.org/prapplied/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.13.014059
• Additional Information: ©2019 American Physical Society