Journal Article

FZJ-2020-05298

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Orbital torque: Torque generation by orbital current injection

Go, D.FZJ* ; Lee, H.-W. (Corresponding author)

2020
APS College Park, MD

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Please use a persistent id in citations: http://hdl.handle.net/2128/26572  doi:10.1103/PhysRevResearch.2.013177

Abstract: We propose a mechanism of torque generation by injection of an orbital current, which we call orbital torque. In a magnetic bilayer consisting of a nonmagnet (NM) and a ferromagnet (FM), we consider a situation where the spin-orbit coupling (SOC) is present only in the FM. Although the SOC is absent in the NM, the orbital Hall effect can arise in the NM. When the resulting orbital Hall current is injected to the FM, the SOC of the FM converts the orbital angular momentum into spin, which exerts torque to the magnetization of the FM. Remarkably, even for small SOC strength comparable to that of 3d FMs, the orbital torque can be comparable to the spin torque induced by the spin Hall effect of the NM with strong SOC. This provides a way to experimentally probe the OHE and opens a venue to achieving spin-torque devices based on light elements that exhibit gigantic orbital response. Experimental implications are discussed.

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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 2020

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