arXiv subjects

N. Reyren

Publications and source records attributed to N. Reyren.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2023

Size-dependence and high temperature stability of radial vortex magnetic textures imprinted by superconductor stray fields

Swirling spin textures, including topologically non-trivial states, such as skyrmions, chiral domain walls, and magnetic vortices, have garnered significant attention within the scientific community due to their appeal from both fundamental and applied points of view. However, their creation, controlled manipulation, and stability are typically constrained to certain systems with specific crystallographic symmetries, bulk, or interface interactions, and/or a precise stacking sequence of materials. Here, we make use of the stray field of YBa2Cu3O7-δ superconducting microstructures in ferromagnet/superconductor hybrids to imprint magnetic radial vortices in permalloy at temperatures below the superconducting transition temperature (TC), a method easily extended to other ferromagnets with in-plane magnetic anisotropy. We examine the size dependence and temperature stability of the imprinted magnetic configurations. We show that above TC, magnetic domains retain memory of the imprinted spin texture. Micromagnetic modelling coupled with a SC field model reveals that the stabilization mechanism leading to this memory effect is mediated by microstructural defects. Superconducting control of swirling spin textures below and above the superconducting transition temperature holds promising prospects for shaping spintronics based on magnetic textures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Quantifying the large contribution from orbital Rashba effect to the effective damping-like torque on magnetization

The generation of large spin currents, and the associated spin torques, which are at the heart of modern spintronics, have long been achieved by charge-to-spin conversion mechanisms, i.e. the spin Hall effect and/or the Rashba effect, intrinsically linked to a strong spin-orbit coupling. Recently, a novel path has been predicted and observed for achieving significant current-induced torques originating from light elements, hence possessing a weak spin-orbit interaction. These findings point out to the potential involvement of the orbital counterpart of electrons, namely the orbital Hall and orbital Rashba effects. In this study, we aim at quantifying these orbital-related contributions to the effective torques acting on a thin Co layer in different systems. First, in Pt|Co|Cu|AlOx stacking, we demonstrate a comparable torque strength coming from the conversion due to the orbital Rashba effect at the Cu|AlOx interface and the one from the effective spin Hall effect in bottom Pt|Co system. Secondly, in order to amplify the orbital-to-spin conversion, we investigate the impact of an intermediate Pt layer in Co|Pt|Cu|CuOx. From the Pt thickness dependence of the effective torques determined by harmonic Hall measurements complemented by spin Hall magneto-resistance and THz spectroscopy experiments, we demonstrate that a large orbital Rashba effect is present at the Cu|CuOx interface, leading to a twofold enhancement of the net torques on Co for the optimal Pt thickness. Our findings not only demonstrate the crucial role that orbital currents can play in low-dimensional systems with weak spin-orbit coupling, but also reveal that they enable more energy efficient manipulation of magnetization in spintronic devices.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

Spin-momentum locking and ultrafast spin-charge conversion in ultrathin epitaxial Bi$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ topological insulator

The helicity of 3D topological insulator surface states has drawn significant attention in spintronics owing to spin-momentum locking where the carriers' spin is oriented perpendicular to their momentum. This property can provide an efficient method to convert charge currents into spin currents, and vice-versa, through the Rashba-Edelstein effect. However, experimental signatures of these surface states to the spin-charge conversion are extremely difficult to disentangle from bulk state contributions. Here, we combine spin- and angle-resolved photo-emission spectroscopy, and time-resolved THz emission spectroscopy to categorically demonstrate that spin-charge conversion arises mainly from the surface state in Bi$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ ultrathin films, down to few nanometers where confinement effects emerge. We correlate this large conversion efficiency, typically at the level of the bulk spin Hall effect from heavy metals, to the complex Fermi surface obtained from theoretical calculations of the inverse Rashba-Edelstein response. %We demonstrate this for film thickness down to a few nanometers, Both surface state robustness and sizeable conversion efficiency in epitaxial Bi$_{1-x}$Sb$_x$ thin films bring new perspectives for ultra-low power magnetic random-access memories and broadband THz generation.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2023

X-ray holography of skyrmionic cocoons in aperiodic magnetic multilayers

The development and characterization of three-dimensional (3D) topological magnetic textures has become an important topic in modern magnetism both for fundamental and technological perspectives. Among the novel 3D spin textures, skyrmionic cocoons have been successfully stabilized in magnetic multilayers having a variable thickness of the ferromagnet in the vertical direction of the stack. These ellipsoidal 3D magnetic textures remain vertically confined in a fraction of the total thickness while coexisting with fully columnar skyrmions. Here, we use X-ray holography with about 15 nm lateral resolution to investigate how their properties depend on the field and temperature. We observe circular objects with different amplitude of contrast which evidences the presence of different 3D objects located in various vertical parts of the multilayer. Moreover, we witness during out-of-plane cycling an attractive interaction between cocoons located at various heights, mainly due to the stray field, which impacts their horizontal positioning. The X-ray holography measurements also allow to determine the size of the cocoons at remanence which, at room temperature, possess diameter close to 100 nm in average. Combining this transmission technique with magnetic force microscopy and micromagnetic simulations gives a precise insight into the 3D distribution of the magnetization which demonstrate the 3D nature of skyrmionic cocoons.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Large interfacial Rashba interaction and giant spin-orbit torques in atomically thin metallic heterostructures

The ability of spin-orbit interactions to convert charge current into spin current, most often in the bulk of heavy metal thin films, has been the hallmark of spintronics in the last decade. In this study, we demonstrate how the insertion of light metal element interface profoundly affects both the nature of spin-orbit torque and its efficiency in terms of damping-like ($H_{\text{DL}}$) and field-like ($H_{\text{FL}}$) effective fields in ultrathin Co ferromagnet. Indeed, we measure unexpectedly large $H_{\text{FL}}$/$H_{\text{DL}}$ ratio ($\sim$2.5) upon inserting a 1.4 nm thin Al layer in Pt|Co|Al|Pt as compared to a similar stacking including Cu instead of Al. From our modelling, these results strongly evidence the presence of large Rashba interaction at Co|Al interface producing a giant $H_{\text{FL}}$, which was not expected from a metallic interface. The occurrence of such enhanced torques from an interfacial origin is further validated by demonstrating current-induced magnetization reversal showing a significant decrease of the critical current for switching.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2022

Ultrafast spin-charge conversion at SnBi$_2$Te$_4$/Co topological insulator interfaces probed by terahertz emission spectroscopy

Spin-to-charge conversion (SCC) involving topological surface states (TSS) is one of the most promising routes for highly efficient spintronic devices for terahertz (THz) emission. Here, the THz generation generally occurs mainly via SCC consisting in efficient dynamical spin injection into spin-locked TSS. In this work, we demonstrate sizable THz emission from a nanometric thick topological insultator (TI)/ferromagnetic junction - SnBi$_2$Te$_4$/Co - specifically designed to avoid bulk band crossing with the TSS at the Fermi level, unlike its parent material Bi$_2$Te$_3$. THz emission time domain spectroscopy (TDS) is used to indicate the TSS contribution to the SCC by investigating the TI thickness and angular dependence of the THz emission. This work illustrates THz emission TDS as a powerful tool alongside angular resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES) methods to investigate the interfacial spintronic properties of TI/ferromagnet bilayers.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Large Rashba unidirectional magnetoresistance in the Fe/Ge(111) interface states

The structure inversion asymmetry at surfaces and interfaces give rise to the Rashba spin-orbit interaction (SOI), that breaks the spin degeneracy of surface or interface states. Hence, when an electric current runs through a surface or interface, this Rashba effect generates an effective magnetic field acting on the electron spin. This provides an additional tool to manipulate the spin state in materials such as Si and Ge that, in their bulk form, possess inversion symmetry (or lack structural inersion asymmetry). The existence of Rashba states could be demonstrated by photoemission spectroscopy at the interface between different metals and Ge(111) and by spin-charge conversion experiments at the Fe/Ge(111) interface even though made of two light elements. In this work, we identify the fingerprint of the Rashba states at the Fe/Ge(111) interface by magnetotransport measurements in the form of a large unidirectional magnetoresistance of up to 0.1 \%. From its temperature dependence, we find that the Rashba energy splitting is larger than in pure Ge(111) subsurface states.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2020

Unconventional anomalous Hall effect in 3d/5d multilayers mediated by the nonlocal spin-conductivity

We evidenced unconventionnal Anomalous Hall Effects (AHE) in 3d/5d (Co0.2nm/Ni0.6nm)N multilayers grown on a thin Pt layer or thin Au:W alloy. The inversion observed on AHE originates from the opposite sign of the spin-orbit coupling of Pt compared to Ni. Via advanced simulations methods for the description of the spin-current profiles based on the spin-dependent Boltzmann formalism, we extracted the spin Hall angle (SHA) of Pt and (Co/Ni) as well as the relevant transport parameters. The extracted SHA for Pt, +20%, is opposite to the one of (Co/Ni), giving rise to an effective AHE inversion for thin (Co/Ni) multilayers (N < 17). The spin Hall angle in Pt is found to be larger than the one previously measured in combined spin-pumping inverse spin-Hall effect experiments in a geometry of current perpendicular to plane. Whereas magnetic proximity effects cannot explain the effect, spin-current leakage and anisotropic electron scattering at Pt/(Co,Ni) interfaces fit the experiments.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2020

The 2020 Skyrmionics Roadmap

The notion of non-trivial topological winding in condensed matter systems represents a major area of present-day theoretical and experimental research. Magnetic materials offer a versatile platform that is particularly amenable for the exploration of topological spin solitons in real space such as skyrmions. First identified in non-centrosymmetric bulk materials, the rapidly growing zoology of materials systems hosting skyrmions and related topological spin solitons includes bulk compounds, surfaces, thin films, heterostructures, nano-wires and nano-dots. This underscores an exceptional potential for major breakthroughs ranging from fundamental questions to applications as driven by an interdisciplinary exchange of ideas between areas in magnetism which traditionally have been pursued rather independently. The skyrmionics roadmap provides a review of the present state of the art and the wide range of research directions and strategies currently under way. These are, for instance, motivated by the identification of the fundamental structural properties of skyrmions and related textures, processes of nucleation and annihilation in the presence of non-trivial topological winding, an exceptionally efficient coupling to spin currents generating spin transfer torques at tiny current densities, as well as the capability to purpose-design broad-band spin dynamic and logic devices.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2020

Tailored flux pinning in superconductor/ferromagnet multilayers with engineered magnetic domain morphology from stripes to skyrmions

Superconductor/Ferromagnet (S/F) hybrid systems show interesting magneto-transport behaviors that result from the transfer of properties between both constituents. For instance, magnetic memory can be transferred from the F into the S through the pinning of superconducting vortices by the ferromagnetic textures. The ability to tailor this type of induced behavior is important to broaden its range of applications. Here we show that engineering the F magnetization reversal allows tuning the strength of the vortex pinning (and memory) effects, as well as the field range in which they appear. This is done by using magnetic multilayers in which Co thin films are combined with different heavy metals (Ru, Ir, Pt). By choosing the materials, thicknesses, and stacking order of the layers, we can design the characteristic domain size and morphology, from out-of-plane magnetized stripe domains to much smaller magnetic skyrmions. These changes strongly affect the magneto-transport properties. The underlying mechanisms are identified by comparing the experimental results to a magnetic pinning model.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2019

Observation of Large Unidirectional Rashba Magnetoresistance in Ge(111)

Relating magnetotransport properties to specific spin textures at surfaces or interfaces is an intense field of research nowadays. Here, we investigate the variation of the electrical resistance of Ge(111) grown epitaxially on semi-insulating Si(111) under the application of an external magnetic field. We find a magnetoresistance term which is linear in current density j and magnetic field B, hence odd in j and B, corresponding to a unidirectional magnetoresistance. At 15 K, for I = 10 $μ$A (or j = 0.33 A/m) and B = 1 T, it represents 0.5 % of the zero field resistance, a much higher value compared to previous reports on unidirectional magnetoresistance. We ascribe the origin of this magnetoresistance to the interplay between the externally applied magnetic field and the current-induced pseudo-magnetic field in the spin-splitted subsurface states of Ge(111). This unidirectional magnetoresistance is independent of the current direction with respect to the Ge crystal axes. It progressively vanishes, either using a negative gate voltage due to carrier activation into the bulk (without spin-splitted bands), or by increasing the temperature due to the Rashba energy splitting of the subsurface states lower than $\sim$58 k$_B$. The highly developed technologies on semiconductor platforms would allow the rapid optimization of devices based on this phenomenon.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Spin dependent transport characterization in metallic lateral spin valves using 1D and 3D modeling

We present the analysis of the spin signals obtained in NiFe based metallic lateral spin valves. We exploit the spin dependent diffusive equations in both the conventional 1D analytic modeling as well as in 3D Finite Element Method simulations. Both approaches are used for extracting the spin diffusion length $l_{sf}^{N}$ and the effective spin polarization $P_{eff}$ in Py/Al, Py/Cu and Py/Au based lateral nano-structures at both $300\,K$ and $77\,K$. Both the analytic modeling and 3D Finite Element Method simulations give consistent results. Combination of both models provides a powerful tool for reliable spin transport characterization in all metallic spin valves and gives an insight into the spin/charge current and spin accumulations 3D distributions in these devices. We provide the necessary ingredients to develop the 3D finite element modeling of diffusive spin transport.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Quantitative imaging of hybrid chiral spin textures in magnetic multilayer systems by Lorentz microscopy

Chiral magnetic textures in ultrathin perpendicularly magnetised multilayer film stacks with an interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction have been the focus of much research recently. The chirality associated with the broken inversion symmetry at the interface between an ultrathin ferromagnetic layer and a heavy metal with large spin-orbit coupling supports homochiral Néel domain walls and hedgehog (Néel) skyrmions. Under spin-orbit torques these Néel type magnetic structures are predicted, and have been measured, to move at high velocities. However recent studies have indicated that some multilayered systems may possess a more complex hybrid domain wall configuration, due to the competition between interfacial DMI and interlayer dipolar fields. These twisted textures are expected to have thickness dependent Néel and Bloch contributions to the domain or skyrmion walls. In this work, we use the methods of Lorentz microscopy to measure quantitatively for the first time experimentally both; i) the contributions of the Néel and Bloch contributions and ii) their spatial spin variation at high resolution. These are compared with modelled and simulated structures which are in excellent agreement with our experimental results. Our quantitative analysis provides powerful direct evidence of the Bloch wall component which exists in these hybrid walls and will be significant when exploiting such phenomena in spintronic applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

A transmission electron microscope study of N\'eel skyrmion magnetic textures in multilayer thin film systems with large interfacial chiral interaction

Skyrmions in ultrathin ferromagnetic metal (FM)/heavy metal (HM) multilayer systems produced by conventional sputtering methods have recently generated huge interest due to their applications in the field of spintronics. The sandwich structure with two correctly-chosen heavy metal layers provides an additive interfacial exchange interaction which promotes domain wall or skyrmion spin textures that are N\'eel in character and with a fixed chirality. Lorentz transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is a high resolution method ideally suited to quantitatively image such chiral magnetic configurations. When allied with physical and chemical TEM analysis of both planar and cross-sectional samples, key length scales such as grain size and the chiral variation of the magnetisation variation have been identified and measured. We present data showing the importance of the grain size (mostly < 10nm) measured from direct imaging and its potential role in describing observed behaviour of isolated skyrmions (diameter < 100nm). In the latter the region in which the magnetization rotates is measured to be around 30 nm. Such quantitative information on the multiscale magnetisation variations in the system is key to understanding and exploiting the behaviour of skyrmions for future device applications.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2017

Chirality in magnetic multilayers probed by the symmetry and the amplitude of dichroism in X-ray resonant magnetic scattering

Chirality in condensed matter is now a topic of the utmost importance because of its significant role in the understanding and mastering of a large variety of new fundamental physicals mechanisms. Versatile experimental approaches, capable to reveal easily the exact winding of order parameters are therefore essential. Here we report X-ray resonant magnetic scattering (XRMS) as a straightforward tool to identify directly the properties of chiral magnetic systems. We show that it can straight-forwardly and unambiguously determine the main characteristics of chiral magnetic distributions: i.e. its chiral nature, the quantitative winding sense (clockwise or counter-clockwise) and its type (Néel/cycloidal or Bloch/helical). This method is model-independent, does not require a-priori knowledge of magnetic parameters and can be applied to any system with magnetic domains ranging from few nanometers (wavelength limited) to several microns. By using prototypical multilayers with tailored magnetic chiralities based on the Co|Pt interface we illustrate the strength of this method.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2016

A skyrmion-based spin-torque nano-oscillator

A model for a spin-torque nano-oscillator based on the self-sustained oscillation of a magnetic skyrmion is presented. The system involves a circular nanopillar geometry comprising an ultrathin film free magnetic layer with a strong Dzyaloshinkii-Moriya interaction and a polariser layer with a vortex-like spin configuration. It is shown that spin-transfer torques due to current flow perpendicular to the film plane leads to skyrmion gyration that arises from a competition between geometric confinement due to boundary edges and the vortex-like polarisation of the spin torques. A phenomenology for such oscillations is developed and quantitative analysis using micromagnetics simulations is presented. It is also shown that weak disorder due to random anisotropy variations does not influence the main characteristics of the steady-state gyration.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2016

Disruptive effect of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction on the MRAM cell performance

In order to increase the thermal stability of a magnetic random access memory (MRAM) cell, materials with high spin-orbit interaction are often introduced in the storage layer. As a side effect, a strong Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) may arise in such systems. Here we investigate the impact of DMI on the magnetic cell performance, using micromagnetic simulations. We find that DMI strongly promotes non-uniform magnetization states and non-uniform switching modes of the magnetic layer. It appears to be detrimental for both the thermal stability of the cell and its switching current, leading to considerable deterioration of the cell performance even for a moderate DMI amplitude.

cond-mat.mes-hall↗

arXiv2015

Perpendicular magnetization reversal in Pt/[Co/Ni]$_3$/Al multilayers via the Spin Hall Effect of Pt

We experimentally investigate the current-induced magnetization reversal in Pt/[Co/Ni]$_3$/Al multilayers combining the anomalous Hall effect and magneto-optical Kerr effect techniques in crossbar geometry. The magnetization reversal occurs through nucleation and propagation of a domain of opposite polarity for a current density of the order of 0.3 TA/m$^2$. In these experiments we demonstrate a full control of each stage: i)the Ørsted field controls the domain nucleation and ii) domain-wall propagation occurs by spin torque from the Pt spin Hall effect. This scenario requires an in-plane magnetic field to tune the domain wall center orientation along the current for efficient domain wall propagation. Indeed, as nucleated, domain walls are chiral and Néel like due to the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗