arXiv subjects

Benjamin A. Brereton

Publications and source records attributed to Benjamin A. Brereton.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Temperature-Dependent Spin-Orbit Torque Generation in Perpendicularly Magnetized Topological Insulator-Magnetic Multilayer Heterostructures

We report a comprehensive temperature-dependent investigation of spin-orbit torque (SOT) generation in heterostructures comprising a perpendicularly magnetized metallic multilayer grown on top of a topological insulator (TI) epilayer. Temperature-dependent second-harmonic Hall measurements reveal distinct trends in the magnitude of the spin-orbit torque across the studied heterostructures. Samples incorporating Bi2Se3 exhibit torques reaching approximately 12 mT/(10^12 A m^-2) at 15 K, around 5 times larger than those in a multilayer without the topological layer. The structure with a thin 2-nm Ta buffer for the multilayer shows the strongest enhancement and a pronounced increase at low temperatures, highlighting efficient spin-current generation from the topological surface states. In contrast, the sample with a 10 nm-thick Ta spacer exhibits reduced torque efficiency, consistent with partial attenuation of spin transmission through the buffer. Systems lacking Bi2Se3 but containing two heavy metals (Ta and Pt) yield significantly smaller torques, around 2.5 mT/(10^12 A m^-2), despite the presence of conventional spin Hall sources. These observations underscore the dominant role of TI-derived spin-momentum-locked currents in driving large damping-like torques and their sensitivity to interfacial structure and buffer-layer thickness.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Beyond conventional skyrmions in synthetic antiferromagnets

Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures that can act as reconfigurable nanoscale information carriers. In synthetic antiferromagnets (SAFs), interlayer exchange coupling offers an additional control parameter beyond the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) and magnetic anisotropy. Here, we engineer a SAF composed of two chemically distinct ferromagnets (CoB and CoFeB), in which the external magnetic field and interlayer exchange act asymmetrically on the sublattices. The competition of these effects, acting as a resultant effective-field, gives rise to two distinct skyrmion families in different field regimes. In large fields, conventional-polarity skyrmions nucleate, with core antiparallel to the external field, whereas in smaller fields an inverse-polarity skyrmion state emerges as the effective-field reverses sign and almost saturates the CoFeB layers. Return-point memory measurements confirm independent nucleation pathways for the two families. Using element-resolved x-ray magnetometry, correlative magnetic force and Lorentz transmission electron microscopies, and parameter-matched micromagnetic modelling, we show that all textures reside only in the CoFeB layers, which experience a Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida (RKKY) exchange field originating from the CoB layers. This effective-field method provides a robust route to programmable three-dimensional spin textures with controlled polarity in selected layers of a multilayer with potential for applications in skyrmion-based computing and spin-logic architectures.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2026

Tailoring Ultrathin Magnetic Multilayers at Terraced Topologically Insulating Interfaces for Perpendicularly Magnetized Domains

Topological insulators and skyrmion-hosting, chiral magnetic multilayers are two well-explored areas of modern condensed matter physics, each offering unique advantages for spintronics applications. In this paper, we demonstrate the optimization process for the growth of a Bi$_2$Se$_3$/buffer/[Pt/CoB/Ru]$_{\times N}$ heterostructure that combines these two material classes: the Bi$_2$Se$_3$ epilayer was grown by molecular beam epitaxy before transfer under ultrahigh vacuum to a separate growth chamber where the polycrystalline metallic multilayer was sputter deposited. The structure of the samples was characterized by co-fitted X-ray and polarized neutron reflectometry measurements and scanning transmission electron microscopy. Polarized neutron models and standard magnetometry show that a buffer layer exceeding a critical thickness is required to obtain the desired uniform, perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in every magnetic layer in the multilayer. Samples with both Ta and Mo buffers were used requiring thicknesses of 1.5 and 0.9 nm respectively. In minimizing the Bi$_2$Se$_3$ terracing, buffered samples yield well-defined, out-of-plane, magnetic domains suitable for spin-orbit torque induced manipulation as determined by X-ray photoemission electron microscopy.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗