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arXiv · 1605.05569

Electrical control over perpendicular magnetization switching driven by spin-orbit torques

X. Zhang·C. H. Wan·Z. H. Yuan·Q. T. Zhang·H. Wu·L. Huang·W. J. Kong·C. Fang·U. Khan·X. F. Han
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Abstract

Flexible control of magnetization switching by electrical manners is crucial for applications of spin-orbitronics. Besides of a switching current that is parallel to an applied field, a bias current that is normal to the switching current is introduced to tune the magnitude of effective damping-like and field-like torques and further to electrically control magnetization switching. Symmetrical and asymmetrical control over the critical switching current by the bias current with opposite polarities is both realized in Pt/Co/MgO and $α$-Ta/CoFeB/MgO systems, respectively. This research not only identifies the influences of field-like and damping-like torques on switching process but also demonstrates an electrical method to control it.

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X. Zhang, C. H. Wan, Z. H. Yuan, Q. T. Zhang, H. Wu, L. Huang, W. J. Kong, C. Fang, U. Khan, X. F. Han. 2016-05-18. Electrical control over perpendicular magnetization switching driven by spin-orbit torques. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.94.174434

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