Rashba spin torque in an ultrathin ferromagnetic metal layer

Xuhui Wang; Aurelien Manchon

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arXiv · 1111.5466

Rashba spin torque in an ultrathin ferromagnetic metal layer

Xuhui Wang·Aurelien Manchon

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Abstract

In a two-dimensional ferromagnetic metal layer lacking inversion symmetry, the itinerant electrons mediate the interaction between the Rashba spin-orbit interaction and the ferromagnetic order parameter, leading to a Rashba spin torque exerted on the magnetization. Using Keldysh technique, in the presence of both magnetism and a spin-orbit coupling, we derive a spin diffusion equation that provides a coherent description to the diffusive spin dynamics. The characteristics of the spin torque and its implication on magnetization dynamics are discussed in the limits of large and weak spin-orbit coupling.

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Xuhui Wang, Aurelien Manchon. 2011-11-23. Rashba spin torque in an ultrathin ferromagnetic metal layer. https://arxiv.org/abs/1111.5466

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