Electric-Field Control of Spin-Orbit Torques in Perpendicularly Magnetized W / CoFeB / MgO Films
Creators
- 1. Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany and 4 Graduate School of Excellence Material Science in Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- 2. Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany and 7 Peter Gru¨nberg Institut and Institute for Advanced Simulation, 8 Forschungszentrum Ju¨lich and JARA, Ju¨lich, Germany
- 3. Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany
- 4. Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany and 13 Center for Spintronics, Korea Institute for Science and Technology, Seoul, Republic of Korea
- 5. Institute of Physics, Johannes Gutenberg University, Mainz, Germany and 16 Singulus Technology AG, Kahl am Main, Germany
Description
Controlling magnetism by electric fields offers a highly attractive perspective for designing future generations of energy-efficient information technologies. Here, we demonstrate that the magnitude of current-induced spin-orbit torques in thin perpendicularly magnetized CoFeB films can be tuned and even increased by electric-field generated piezoelectric strain. Using theoretical calculations, we uncover that the subtle interplay of spin-orbit coupling, crystal symmetry, and orbital polarization is at the core of the observed strain dependence of spin-orbit torques. Our results open a path to integrating two energy efficient spin manipulation approaches, the electric-field-induced strain and the current-induced magnetization switching, thereby enabling novel device concepts.
Files
apl_arajan_revised_with_ack.pdf
Files
(8.0 MB)
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