Boosting spin-orbit torque efficiency in spin-current generator/magnet/oxide superlattices

Abstract

Efficient manipulation of magnetic materials is essential for spintronics. In spin-current generator/magnet bilayers, the efficiency of spin-orbit torques per magnetic layer thickness scales inversely with the magnetic layer thickness, leading to considerable power increase in applications with large magnetic layer thickness. Here, we develop a 3D spin-orbit material scheme in which the spin torque efficiency can be remarkably boosted up by stacking [spin-current generator/magnet/oxide]n superlattices, with the oxide layers breaking the inversion symmetry. In contrast, the spin torque diminishes in [spin-current generator/magnet]n superlattices lacking inversion symmetry breaking. These results advances the understanding of spin-orbit torques in magnetic multilayers and establishes spin-current generator/magnet/oxide superlattices as advantageous bricks for development of high energy-efficiency, high-endurance, and high-density spintronic memory and computing.

In press at Phys. Rev. Applied

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Cited by in corpus (4)

• Switching of Perpendicular Magnetization by Spin-Orbit Torque
• Strong variation of spin-orbit torques with relative spin relaxation rates in ferrimagnets
• Observation of Fluctuation Spin Hall Effect in Antiferromagnet
• Linear Enhancement of Spin-Orbit Torques and Absence of Bulk Rashba-Type Spin Splitting in Perpendicularly Magnetized [Pt/Co/W]n Superlattices