arXiv subjects

D. C. Ralph

Publications and source records attributed to D. C. Ralph.

At least 37 records · Page 2Linked to original sources

arXiv2016

Low-damping sub-10-nm thin films of lutetium iron garnet grown by molecular-beam epitaxy

We analyze the structural and magnetic characteristics of (111)-oriented lutetium iron garnet (Lu$_3$Fe$_5$O$_{12}$) films grown by molecular-beam epitaxy, for films as thin as 2.8 nm. Thickness-dependent measurements of the in- and out-of-plane ferromagnetic resonance allow us to quantify the effects of two-magnon scattering, along with the surface anisotropy and the saturation magnetization. We achieve effective damping coefficients of $11.1(9) \times 10^{-4}$ for 5.3 nm films and $32(3) \times 10^{-4}$ for 2.8 nm films, among the lowest values reported to date for any insulating ferrimagnetic sample of comparable thickness.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

On the origin of field-like spin-orbit torques in heavy metal-ferromagnet-oxide thin film heterostructures

We report measurements of the thickness and temperature (T) dependencies of current-induced spin-orbit torques, especially the field-like (FL) component, in various heavy metal (HM)/normal metal (NM) spacer/ferromagnet (FM)/Oxide (MgO and HfOx/MgO) heterostructures. The FL torque in these samples originates from spin current generated by the spin Hall effect (SHE) in the HM. For a FM layer sufficiently thin that a substantial portion of this spin current can reach the FM/Oxide interface, T-dependent spin scattering there can yield a strong FL torque that is, in some cases, opposite in sign to that exerted at the NM/FM interface.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

Comment on "Spin-Orbit Logic with Magnetoelectric Nodes: A Scalable Charge Mediated Nonvolatile Spintronic Logic" (arXiv:1512.05428)

Researchers from Intel Corporation recently proposed "Magneto-Electric Spin Orbit (MESO)" logic as a new strategy for beyond-CMOS electronics [1]. The Intel researchers project that this concept has the potential to reduce the switching energy per bit "to near thermodynamic limits for GHz logic (100 kT switching at 100 ps delay)", i.e., to near 0.4 aJ. Here I point out that the switching energy stated in ref. [1] is incorrect, because the paper neglects a large energy cost associated with Ohmic dissipation that is unavoidable within the MESO scheme. Using optimistic parameters, the true minimum switching energy per bit within the MESO approach is at least 150 fJ, or more than 300,000 times greater than the value stated in ref. [1]. Given this large energy cost, the MESO concept is not a viable strategy for beyond-CMOS logic.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Control of spin-orbit torques through crystal symmetry in WTe2/ferromagnet bilayers

Recent discoveries regarding current-induced spin-orbit torques produced by heavy-metal/ferromagnet and topological-insulator/ferromagnet bilayers provide the potential for dramatically-improved efficiency in the manipulation of magnetic devices. However, in experiments performed to date, spin-orbit torques have an important limitation -- the component of torque that can compensate magnetic damping is required by symmetry to lie within the device plane. This means that spin-orbit torques can drive the most current-efficient type of magnetic reversal (antidamping switching) only for magnetic devices with in-plane anisotropy, not the devices with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy that are needed for high-density applications. Here we show experimentally that this state of affairs is not fundamental, but rather one can change the allowed symmetries of spin-orbit torques in spin-source/ferromagnet bilayer devices by using a spin source material with low crystalline symmetry. We use WTe2, a transition-metal dichalcogenide whose surface crystal structure has only one mirror plane and no two-fold rotational invariance. Consistent with these symmetries, we generate an out-of-plane antidamping torque when current is applied along a low-symmetry axis of WTe2/Permalloy bilayers, but not when current is applied along a high-symmetry axis. Controlling S-O torques by crystal symmetries in multilayer samples provides a new strategy for optimizing future magnetic technologies.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Strong Spin Hall Effect in the Antiferromagnet PtMn

Effectively manipulating magnetism in ferromagnet (FM) thin film nanostructures with an in-plane current has become feasible since the determination of a 'giant' spin Hall effect (SHE) in certain heavy metal (HM)/FM system. Recently, both theoretical and experimental reports indicate that the non-collinear and collinear metallic antiferromagnet (AF) materials can have both a large anomalous Hall effect (AHE) and a strong SHE. Here we report a systematic study of the SHE in PtMn with several PtMn/FM systems. By using interface engineering to reduce the 'spin memory loss' we obtain a spin torque efficiency as large as 0.24. This is more than twice the previously reported spin torque efficiency for PtMn. We also find that the apparent spin diffusion length in PtMn is surprisingly long (about 2.3nm).

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2015

Spin torque study of the spin Hall conductivity and spin diffusion length in platinum thin films with varying resistivity

We report measurements of the spin torque efficiencies in perpendicularly-magnetized Pt/Co bilayers where the Pt resistivity $ρ_{Pt}$ is strongly dependent on thickness $t_{Pt}$ . The damping-like spin Hall torque efficiency per unit current density, $ξ^j_{DL}$ , varies significantly with $t_{Pt}$, exhibiting a peak value $ξ^j_{DL}=0.12$ at $t_{Pt} = 2.8 - 3.9$ nm. In contrast, $ξ^j_{DL}/ρ_{Pt}$ increases monotonically with $t_{Pt}$ and saturates for $t_{Pt} > 5$ nm, consistent with an intrinsic spin Hall effect mechanism, in which $ξ^j_{DL}$ is enhanced by an increase in $ρ_{Pt}$ . Assuming the Elliott-Yafet spin scattering mechanism dominates we estimate that the spin diffusion length $λ_s = (0.77 \pm 0.08) \times 10^{-15} Ωm^2 /ρ_{Pt}$.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

GPU-accelerated micromagnetic simulations using cloud computing

Highly-parallel graphics processing units (GPUs) can improve the speed of micromagnetic simulations significantly as compared to conventional computing using central processing units (CPUs). We present a strategy for performing GPU-accelerated micromagnetic simulations by utilizing cost-effective GPU access offered by cloud computing services with an open-source Python-based program for running the MuMax3 micromagnetics code remotely. We analyze the scaling and cost benefits of using cloud computing for micromagnetics.

physics.comp-ph↗

arXiv2014

Dependence of the Efficiency of Spin Hall Torque on the Transparency of Pt-Ferromagnetic Layer Interfaces

We report that spin current transport across Pt-ferromagnet (FM) interfaces is strongly dependent on the type and the thickness of the FM layer and on post-deposition processing protocols. By employing both harmonic voltage measurements and spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance measurements, we find that the efficiency of the Pt spin Hall effect in exerting a damping-like spin torque on the FM ranges from < 0.05 to > 0.10 under different interfacial conditions. We also show that the temperature dependence of the spin torque efficiencies for both the damping-like torque and field-like torque is dependent upon the details of the Pt-FM interface. The "internal" spin Hall angle of the Pt thin films used in this study, after taking the interfacial spin transmission factor into account, is estimated to be ~ 0.20. This suggests that a careful engineering of Pt-FM interfaces can improve the spin-Hall-torque efficiency of Pt-based spintronic devices.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Spin Transfer Torque Generated by the Topological Insulator Bi_2Se_3

Magnetic devices are a leading contender for implementing memory and logic technologies that are nonvolatile, that can scale to high density and high speed, and that do not suffer wear-out. However, widespread applications of magnetic memory and logic devices will require the development of efficient mechanisms for reorienting their magnetization using the least possible current and power. There has been considerable recent progress in this effort, in particular discoveries that spin-orbit interactions in heavy metal/ferromagnet bilayers can yield strong current-driven torques on the magnetic layer, via the spin Hall effect in the heavy metal or the Rashba-Edelstein effect in the ferromagnet. As part of the search for materials to provide even more efficient spin-orbit-induced torques, some proposals have suggested topological insulators (TIs), which possess a surface state in which the effects of spin-orbit coupling are maximal in the sense that an electron's spin orientation is locked relative to its propagation direction. Here we report experiments showing that charge current flowing in-plane in a thin film of the TI Bi_2Se_3 at room temperature can indeed apply a strong spin-transfer torque to an adjacent ferromagnetic permalloy (Py = Ni81Fe19) thin film, with a direction consistent with that expected from the topological surface state. We find that the strength of the torque per unit charge current density in the Bi_2Se_3 is greater than for any other spin-torque source material measured to date, even for non-ideal TI films wherein the surface states coexist with bulk conduction. Our data suggest that TIs have potential to enable very efficient electrical manipulation of magnetic materials at room temperature for memory and logic applications.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2014

Enhancement of Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy and Transmission of Spin-Hall-Effect-Induced Spin Currents by a Hf Spacer Layer in W/Hf/CoFeB/MgO Layer

We report that strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the ferromagnetic layer in a W/CoFeB/MgO multilayer structure can be established by inserting a Hf layer as thin as 0.25 nm between the W and CoFeB layers. The Hf spacer also allows transmission of spin currents generated by an in-plane charge current in the W layer to apply strong spin torque on the CoFeB, thereby enabling current-driven magnetic switching. The antidamping-like and field-like components of the spin torque exerted on a 1 nm CoFeB layer are of comparable magnitudes in this geometry. Both components originate from the spin Hall effect in the underlying W layer.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2013

Central role of domain wall depinning for perpendicular magnetization switching driven by spin torque from the spin Hall effect

We study deterministic magnetic reversal of a perpendicularly magnetized Co layer in a Co/MgO/Ta nano-square driven by spin Hall torque from an in-plane current flowing in an underlying Pt layer. The rate-limiting step of the switching process is domain-wall (DW) depinning by spin Hall torque via a thermally-assisted mechanism that eventually produces full reversal by domain expansion. An in-plane applied magnetic field collinear with the current is required, with the necessary field scale set by the need to overcome DW chirality imposed by the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Once Joule heating is taken into account the switching current density is quantitatively consistent with a spin Hall angle θ$_{SH}$ ${\approx}$ 0.07 for 4 nm of Pt.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

A quasi-linear spin-torque nano-oscillator via enhanced negative feedback of power fluctuations

We report an approach to improving the performance of spin torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) that utilizes power-dependent negative feedback to achieve a significantly enhanced dynamic damping. In combination with a sufficiently slow variation of frequency with power this can result in a quasi-linear STNO, with very weak non-linear coupling of power and phase fluctuations over a range of bias current and field. An implementation of this approach that utilizes a non-uniform spin-torque demonstrates that highly coherent room temperature STNOs can be achieved while retaining a significant tunability.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2013

Observation and Spectroscopy of a Two-Electron Wigner Molecule in an Ultra-Clean Carbon Nanotube

Coulomb interactions can have a decisive effect on the ground state of electronic systems. The simplest system in which interactions can play an interesting role is that of two electrons on a string. In the presence of strong interactions the two electrons are predicted to form a Wigner molecule, separating to the ends of the string due to their mutual repulsion. This spatial structure is believed to be clearly imprinted on the energy spectrum, yet to date a direct measurement of such a spectrum in a controllable one-dimensional setting is still missing. Here we use an ultra-clean suspended carbon nanotube to realize this system in a tunable potential. Using tunneling spectroscopy we measure the excitation spectra of two interacting carriers, electrons or holes, and identify seven low-energy states characterized by their spin and isospin quantum numbers. These states fall into two multiplets according to their exchange symmetries. The formation of a strongly-interacting Wigner molecule is evident from the small energy splitting measured between the two multiplets, that is quenched by an order of magnitude compared to the non-interacting value. Our ability to tune the two-electron state in space and to study it for both electrons and holes provides an unambiguous demonstration of the fundamental Wigner molecule state.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Gate voltage modulation of spin-Hall-torque-driven magnetic switching

Two promising strategies for achieving efficient control of magnetization in future magnetic memory and non-volatile spin logic devices are spin transfer torque from spin polarized currents and voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA). Spin transfer torque is in widespread development as the write mechanism for next-generation magnetic memory, while VCMA offers the potential of even better energy performance due to smaller Ohmic losses. Here we introduce a 3-terminal magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) device that combines both of these mechanisms to achieve new functionality: gate-voltage-modulated spin torque switching. This gating makes possible both more energy-efficient switching and also improved architectures for memory and logic applications, including a simple approach for making magnetic memories with a maximum-density cross-point geometry that does not require a control transistor for every MTJ.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Magnetic oscillations driven by the spin Hall effect in 3-terminal magnetic tunnel junction devices

We show that direct current in a tantalum microstrip can induce steady-state magnetic oscillations in an adjacent nanomagnet through spin torque from the spin Hall effect (SHE). The oscillations are detected electrically via a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) contacting the nanomagnet. The oscillation frequency can be controlled using the MTJ bias to tune the magnetic anisotropy. In this 3-terminal device the SHE torque and the MTJ bias therefore provide independent controls of the oscillation amplitude and frequency, enabling new approaches for developing tunable spin torque nano-oscillators.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Spin transfer torque devices utilizing the giant spin Hall effect of tungsten

We report a giant spin Hall effect (SHE) in β-W thin films. Using spin torque induced ferromagnetic resonance with a β-W/CoFeB bilayer microstrip we determine the spin Hall angle to be |θ|=0.30\pm0.02, large enough for an in-plane current to efficiently reverse the orientation of an in-plane magnetized CoFeB free layer of a nanoscale magnetic tunnel junction adjacent to a thin β-W layer. From switching data obtained with such 3-terminal devices we independently determine |θ|=0.33\pm0.06. We also report variation of the spin Hall switching efficiency with W layers of different resistivities and hence of variable (α and β) phase composition.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2012

Network analyzer measurements of spin transfer torques in magnetic tunnel junctions

We demonstrate a simple network-analyzer technique to make quantitative measurements of the bias dependence of spin torque in a magnetic tunnel junction. We apply a microwave current to exert an oscillating spin torque near the ferromagnetic resonance frequency of the tunnel junction's free layer. This produces an oscillating resistance that, together with an applied direct current, generates a microwave signal that we measure with the network analyzer. An analysis of the resonant response yields the strength and direction of the spin torque at non-zero bias. We compare to measurements of the spin torque vector by time-domain spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2012

Resonance Measurement of Nonlocal Spin Torque in a Three-Terminal Magnetic Device

A pure spin current generated within a nonlocal spin valve can exert a spin transfer torque on a nanomagnet. This nonlocal torque enables new design schemes for magnetic memory devices that do not require the application of large voltages across tunnel barriers that can suffer electrical breakdown. Here we report a quantitative measurement of this nonlocal spin torque using spin-torque-driven ferromagnetic resonance. Our measurement agrees well with the prediction of an effective circuit model for spin transport. Based on this model, we suggest strategies for optimizing the strength of nonlocal torque.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗