Switching of perpendicular magnetization by spin-orbit torques in the absence of external magnetic fields

Guoqiang Yu; Pramey Upadhyaya; Yabin Fan; Juan G. Alzate; Wanjun Jiang; Kin L. Wong; So Takei; Scott A. Bender; Li Te Chang; Ying Jiang; Murong Lang; Jianshi Tang; Yong Wang; Yaroslav Tserkovnyak; Pedram Khalili Amiri; Kang L. Wang

doi:10.1038/nnano.2014.94

Switching of perpendicular magnetization by spin-orbit torques in the absence of external magnetic fields

Guoqiang Yu^*, Pramey Upadhyaya, Yabin Fan, Juan G. Alzate, Wanjun Jiang, Kin L. Wong, So Takei, Scott A. Bender, Li Te Chang, Ying Jiang, Murong Lang, Jianshi Tang, Yong Wang, Yaroslav Tserkovnyak, Pedram Khalili Amiri, Kang L. Wang

^*Corresponding author for this work

Electrical and Computer Engineering

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

818 Scopus citations

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/Co 20 Fe 60 B 20 /TaO x 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.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	548-554
Number of pages	7
Journal	Nature nanotechnology
Volume	9
Issue number	7
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2014.94
State	Published - Jul 2014

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Condensed Matter Physics
Bioengineering
Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
General Materials Science
Electrical and Electronic Engineering
Biomedical Engineering

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Yu, G., Upadhyaya, P., Fan, Y., Alzate, J. G., Jiang, W., Wong, K. L., Takei, S., Bender, S. A., Chang, L. T., Jiang, Y., Lang, M., Tang, J., Wang, Y., Tserkovnyak, Y., Amiri, P. K., & Wang, K. L. (2014). Switching of perpendicular magnetization by spin-orbit torques in the absence of external magnetic fields. Nature nanotechnology, 9(7), 548-554. https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2014.94

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title = "Switching of perpendicular magnetization by spin-orbit torques in the absence of external magnetic fields",

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/Co 20 Fe 60 B 20 /TaO x 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.",

author = "Guoqiang Yu and Pramey Upadhyaya and Yabin Fan and Alzate, {Juan G.} and Wanjun Jiang and Wong, {Kin L.} and So Takei and Bender, {Scott A.} and Chang, {Li Te} and Ying Jiang and Murong Lang and Jianshi Tang and Yong Wang and Yaroslav Tserkovnyak and Amiri, {Pedram Khalili} and Wang, {Kang L.}",

year = "2014",

month = jul,

doi = "10.1038/nnano.2014.94",

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pages = "548--554",

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Yu, G, Upadhyaya, P, Fan, Y, Alzate, JG, Jiang, W, Wong, KL, Takei, S, Bender, SA, Chang, LT, Jiang, Y, Lang, M, Tang, J, Wang, Y, Tserkovnyak, Y, Amiri, PK & Wang, KL 2014, 'Switching of perpendicular magnetization by spin-orbit torques in the absence of external magnetic fields', Nature nanotechnology, vol. 9, no. 7, pp. 548-554. https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2014.94

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AU - Yu, Guoqiang

AU - Upadhyaya, Pramey

AU - Fan, Yabin

AU - Alzate, Juan G.

AU - Jiang, Wanjun

AU - Wong, Kin L.

AU - Takei, So

AU - Bender, Scott A.

AU - Chang, Li Te

AU - Jiang, Ying

AU - Lang, Murong

AU - Tang, Jianshi

AU - Wang, Yong

AU - Tserkovnyak, Yaroslav

AU - Amiri, Pedram Khalili

AU - Wang, Kang L.

PY - 2014/7

Y1 - 2014/7

N2 - 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/Co 20 Fe 60 B 20 /TaO x 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.

AB - 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/Co 20 Fe 60 B 20 /TaO x 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.

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Switching of perpendicular magnetization by spin-orbit torques in the absence of external magnetic fields

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