Spin-orbit torque opposing the Oersted torque in ultrathin Co/Pt bilayers

Skinner, T.D.; Wang, M.; Hindmarch, A.T.; Rushforth, A.W.; Irvine, A.C.; Heiss, D.; Kurebayashi, H.; Ferguson, A.J.

Abstract

Current-induced torques in ultrathin Co/Pt bilayers were investigated using an electrically driven ferromagnetic resonance technique. The angle dependence of the resonances, detected by a rectification effect as a voltage, was analysed to determine the symmetries and relative magnitudes of the spin-orbit torques. Both anti-damping (Slonczewski) and field-like torques were observed. As the ferromagnet thickness was reduced from 3 to 1nm, the sign of the sum of the field-like torque and Oersted torque reversed. This observation is consistent with the emergence of a Rashba spin orbit torque in ultra-thin bilayers.

Citation

Skinner, T., Wang, M., Hindmarch, A., Rushforth, A., Irvine, A., Heiss, D., …Ferguson, A. (in press). Spin-orbit torque opposing the Oersted torque in ultrathin Co/Pt bilayers. Applied Physics Letters, 104(6), Article 062401. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4864399

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jan 24, 2014
• Online Publication Date: Feb 10, 2014
• Deposit Date: Jun 23, 2016
• Publicly Available Date: Jun 23, 2016
• Journal: Applied Physics Letters
• Print ISSN: 0003-6951
• Electronic ISSN: 1077-3118
• Publisher: American Institute of Physics
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 104
• Issue: 6
• Article Number: 062401
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4864399
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/723341
• Publisher URL: http://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/apl/104/6/10.1063/1.4864399
• Additional Information: Spin-orbit torque opposing the Oersted torque in ultrathin Co/Pt bilayers, T.D. Skinner, M. Wang, A.T. Hindmarch, A.W. Rushforth, A.C. Irvine, D. Heiss, H. Kurebayashi, and A.J. Ferguson. Applied Physics Letters 104, 062401 (2014). doi: 10.1063/1.4864399