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A spin–orbit torque switching scheme with collinear magnetic easy axis and current configuration

Nature Nanotechnology volume 11, pages 621–625 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Spin–orbit torque, a torque brought about by in-plane current via the spin–orbit interactions in heavy-metal/ferromagnet nanostructures, provides a new pathway to switch the magnetization direction. Although there are many recent studies, they all build on one of two structures that have the easy axis of a nanomagnet lying orthogonal to the current, that is, along the z or y axes. Here, we present a new structure with the third geometry, that is, with the easy axis collinear with the current (along the x axis). We fabricate a three-terminal device with a Ta/CoFeB/MgO-based stack and demonstrate the switching operation driven by the spin–orbit torque due to Ta with a negative spin Hall angle. Comparisons with different geometries highlight the previously unknown mechanisms of spin–orbit torque switching. Our work offers a new avenue for exploring the physics of spin–orbit torque switching and its application to spintronics devices.

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Figure 1: Structures of SOT devices and magnetization trajectories.
Figure 2: Sample structure with measurement set-up.
Figure 3: R–Hx and R–J loops.
Figure 4: R–J loop at various Hz and JC versus Hz.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank M. Hayashi, H. Sato and F. Matsukura for discussions and S. DuttaGupta, N. Ohshima, C. Igarashi, I. Morita, T. Hirata, H. Iwanuma, Y. Kawato and K. Goto for technical support. A portion of this work was supported by the R&D Project for ICT Key Technology to Realize Future Society of MEXT, the R&D Subsidiary Program for the Promotion of Academia–Industry Cooperation of METI, the ImPACT Program of CSTI and JSPS KAKENHI grant numbers 15K13964 and 15J04691.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Spintronics Integrated Systems, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba, 980-8577, Sendai, Japan

    S. Fukami & H. Ohno

  2. Center for Innovative Integrated Electronic Systems, Tohoku University, 468-1 Aoba, Aramaki, Aoba, 980-0845, Sendai, Japan

    S. Fukami & H. Ohno

  3. Laboratory for Nanoelectronics and Spintronics, Research Institute of Electrical Communication, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba, 980-8577, Sendai, Japan

    T. Anekawa, C. Zhang & H. Ohno

  4. WPI Advanced Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, 2-1-1 Katahira, Aoba, 980 8577, Sendai, Japan

    H. Ohno

Authors
  1. S. Fukami
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  2. T. Anekawa
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  3. C. Zhang
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  4. H. Ohno
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Contributions

S.F. and H.O. conceived and designed the study. S.F. deposited the film. T.A. and C.Z. fabricated the samples and performed the measurements, T.A. and S.F. analysed the data and performed the numerical calculation. S.F. wrote the manuscript with input from H.O. All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

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Correspondence to S. Fukami.

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The authors declare no competing financial interests.

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Fukami, S., Anekawa, T., Zhang, C. et al. A spin–orbit torque switching scheme with collinear magnetic easy axis and current configuration. Nature Nanotech 11, 621–625 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nnano.2016.29

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