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- Title
Switching of perpendicular magnetization by spin-orbit torques in the absence of external magnetic fields.
- Authors
Yu, Guoqiang; Upadhyaya, Pramey; Fan, Yabin; Alzate, Juan G.; Jiang, Wanjun; Wong, Kin L.; Takei, So; Bender, Scott A.; Chang, Li-Te; Jiang, Ying; Lang, Murong; Tang, Jianshi; Wang, Yong; Tserkovnyak, Yaroslav; Amiri, Pedram Khalili; Wang, Kang L.
- Abstract
Magnetization switching by current-induced spin-orbit torques is of great interest due to its potential applications in ultralow-power memory and logic devices. The switching of ferromagnets with perpendicular magnetization is of particular technological relevance. However, in such materials, the presence of an in-plane external magnetic field is typically required to assist spin-orbit torque-driven switching and this is an obstacle for practical applications. Here, we report the switching of out-of-plane magnetized Ta/Co20Fe60B20/TaOx structures by spin-orbit torques driven by in-plane currents, without the need for any external magnetic fields. This is achieved by introducing a lateral structural asymmetry into our devices, which gives rise to a new field-like spin-orbit torque when in-plane current flows in these structures. The direction of the current-induced effective field corresponding to this field-like spin-orbit torque is out-of-plane, facilitating the switching of perpendicular magnets.
- Subjects
MAGNETIZATION; SPIN-orbit interactions; MAGNETIC fields; FERROMAGNETIC materials; NANOMAGNETICS; SPIN transfer torque
- Publication
Nature Nanotechnology, 2014, Vol 9, Issue 7, p548
- ISSN
1748-3387
- Publication type
Article
- DOI
10.1038/nnano.2014.94