Enhanced spin-orbit torques in Pt/Co/Ta heterostructures
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Beach_Enhanced spin-orbit.pdf
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Author(s)
Woo, Seonghoon
Tan, Aik Jun
Mann, Maxwell S.
Caretta, Lucas Marcelo
Beach, Geoffrey Stephen
Date Issued
November 2014
Journal
Applied Physics Letters
Publisher
American Institute of Physics (AIP)
Citation
Woo, Seonghoon, Maxwell Mann, Aik Jun Tan, Lucas Caretta, and Geoffrey S. D. Beach. “Enhanced Spin-Orbit Torques in Pt/Co/Ta Heterostructures.” Applied Physics Letters 105, no. 21 (November 24, 2014): 212404. © 2014 AIP Publishing LLC
Version
Final published version
Abstract
Spin-orbit torques (SOTs) are studied in perpendicularly magnetized ultrathin Co films sandwiched between two heavy metals, Pt and Ta. A significant enhancement of the Slonczewski-like torque is achieved by placing dissimilar metals with opposite spin Hall angles on opposite sides of the ferromagnet. SOTs were characterized through harmonic measurements and the contribution by the Ta overlayer was isolated by systematically varying its thickness. An effective spin Hall angle of up to 34% is observed, along with a sizable field-like torque that increases with increasing Ta layer thickness. Current-induced switching measurements reveal a corresponding increase in switching efficiency, suggesting that by engineering both interfaces in trilayer structures, the SOTs can be significantly improved.
MIT Department
Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Department of Materials Science and Engineering
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Article is made available in accordance with the publisher's policy and may be subject to US copyright law. Please refer to the publisher's site for terms of use.
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DOI of Published Version
https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4902529
