Electric-Field Control of Spin-Orbit Torques in Perpendicularly Magnetized W/CoFeB/MgO Films

Physical Review Letters
Mariia FilianinaMathias Kläui

Abstract

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.

References

Oct 28, 1996·Physical Review Letters·J P PerdewM Ernzerhof
Jan 12, 2010·Nature Materials·Ioan Mihai MironPietro Gambardella
Jul 14, 2010·Nature Materials·S IkedaH Ohno
Jul 31, 2013·Nature Nanotechnology·Kevin GarelloPietro Gambardella
Jun 2, 2015·Nature Nanotechnology·K ShibataY Tokura
Sep 3, 2017·Nature Communications·Michael FoersterLucia Aballe

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Citations

Oct 23, 2020·IScience·Yi CaoKaiyou Wang
May 11, 2021·ACS Nano·Grayson Dao Hwee WongWen Siang Lew
Aug 28, 2021·Nanotechnology·Yu-Ting ChowChii-Ruey Lin

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