Journal Article

FZJ-2018-04426

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Tailor-made currents

Freimuth, F. (Corresponding author)FZJ*

2018
Nature Publishing Group Basingstoke

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Please use a persistent id in citations: doi:10.1038/s41563-018-0086-5

Abstract: The magnetization direction of nanosize magnets is used nowadays to store information compactly in hard disks. The magnetization points either up or down, which corresponds to the values 0 and 1 of the bit. In order to reduce the size of magnetic bits further and to increase the information density in magnetic storage devices, the mechanism used to write the bits by switching the magnetization up or down needs to be efficient and reliable at smaller length scales. The spin-transfer torque is such a scalable mechanism: when a spin current traverses a magnet, the spins exert a torque on the magnetization if they are not aligned with it. It can therefore be used to switch the magnetization in magnetic bilayers composed of a normal metal layer and a magnetic layer (Fig. 1a). Spin currents flowing from the normal metal into the magnet can be generated through electric currents applied parallel to the bilayer interface1,2. In magnetic bilayers, however, such current-induced torques on the magnetization are not possible without spin–orbit interaction and are therefore called spin–orbit torques. Now, writing in Nature Materials, Baek and colleagues3 demonstrate an unexpected spin polarization of the spin currents in trilayers composed of two magnets sandwiching a normal metal layer (Fig. 1b) and show that the bottom magnet can be used for the switching of the top magnet without an additional external magnetic field.

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Quanten-Theorie der Materialien (IAS-1)
2. Quanten-Theorie der Materialien (PGI-1)
3. JARA-FIT (JARA-FIT)
4. JARA - HPC (JARA-HPC)

Research Program(s):

1. 142 - Controlling Spin-Based Phenomena (POF3-142) (POF3-142)

Appears in the scientific report 2018

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Database coverage:
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