Deterministic Magnetization Switching Using Lateral Spin–Orbit Torque

Cao, Yi; Sheng, Yu; Edmonds, Kevin William; Ji, Yang; Zheng, Houzhi; Wang, Kaiyou

Abstract

Current-induced magnetization switching by spin–orbit torque (SOT) holds considerable promise for next generation ultralow-power memory and logic applications. In most cases, generation of spin–orbit torques has relied on an external injection of out-of-plane spin currents into the magnetic layer, while an external magnetic field along the electric current direction is generally required for realizing deterministic switching by SOT. Here, deterministic current-induced SOT full magnetization switching by lateral spin–orbit torque in zero external magnetic field is reported. The Pt/Co/Pt magnetic structure is locally annealed by a laser track along the in-plane current direction, resulting in a lateral Pt gradient within the ferromagnetic layer, as confirmed by microstructure and chemical composition analysis. In zero magnetic field, the direction of the deterministic current-induced magnetization switching depends on the location of the laser track, but shows no dependence on the net polarization of external out-of-plane spin currents. From the behavior under external magnetic fields, two independent mechanisms giving rise to SOT are identified, i.e., the lateral Pt–Co asymmetry as well as out-of-plane injected spin currents, where the polarization and the magnitude of the SOT in the former case depends on the relative location and the laser power of the annealing track.

Citation

Cao, Y., Sheng, Y., Edmonds, K. W., Ji, Y., Zheng, H., & Wang, K. (2020). Deterministic Magnetization Switching Using Lateral Spin–Orbit Torque. Advanced Materials, 32(16), Article 1907929. https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201907929

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Feb 14, 2020
• Online Publication Date: Feb 28, 2020
• Publication Date: Feb 28, 2020
• Deposit Date: Mar 13, 2020
• Publicly Available Date: Mar 1, 2021
• Journal: Advanced Materials
• Print ISSN: 0935-9648
• Electronic ISSN: 1521-4095
• Publisher: Wiley
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 32
• Issue: 16
• Article Number: 1907929
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201907929
• Keywords: Mechanical Engineering; General Materials Science; Mechanics of Materials
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4136909
• Publisher URL: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/adma.201907929
• Additional Information: This is the peer reviewed version of the following article: ao, Y., Sheng, Y., Edmonds, K. W., Ji, Y., Zheng, H., Wang, K., Deterministic Magnetization Switching Using Lateral Spin–Orbit Torque. Adv. Mater. 2020, 1907929, which has been published in final form at https://doi.org/10.1002/adma.201907929. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Use of Self-Archived Versions