paper

Spin-orbit torques due to topological insulator surface states: an in-plane magnetization as a probe of extrinsic spin-orbit scattering

arXiv:2306.12557 · doi:10.1088/1361-648X/ad43a6

Abstract

Topological insulator (TI) surface states exert strong spin-orbit torques. When the magnetization is in the plane its interaction with the TI conduction electrons is non-trivial, and is influenced by extrinsic spin-orbit scattering. This is expected to be strong in TIs but is difficult to calculate and to measure unambiguously. Here we show that extrinsic spin-orbit scattering sizably renormalizes the surface state spin-orbit torque resulting in a strong density dependence. The magnitude of the renormalization of the spin torque and the effect of spin-orbit scattering on the relative sizes of the in-plane and out-of-plane field-like torques have strong implications for experiment: We propose two separate experimental signatures for the measurement of its presence.

6 pages, 4 figures

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