Impact of inherent energy barrier on spin-orbit torques in magnetic-metal/semimetal heterojunctions.

Autor: Gao T; Keio Institute of Pure and Applied Science, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan.; Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan.; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China., Qaiumzadeh A; Center for Quantum Spintronics, Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway., Troncoso RE; Center for Quantum Spintronics, Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway.; School of Engineering and Sciences, Universidad Adolfo Ibáñez, Santiago, Chile., Haku S; Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan., An H; College of New Materials and New Energies, Shenzhen Technology University, Shenzhen, 518118, China., Nakayama H; Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan., Tazaki Y; Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan., Zhang S; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China., Tu R; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Technology for Materials Synthesis and Processing, Wuhan University of Technology, Wuhan, China., Asami A; Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan., Brataas A; Center for Quantum Spintronics, Department of Physics, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, NO-7491, Trondheim, Norway., Ando K; Keio Institute of Pure and Applied Science, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan. ando@appi.keio.ac.jp.; Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan. ando@appi.keio.ac.jp.; Center for Spintronics Research Network, Keio University, Yokohama, 223-8522, Japan. ando@appi.keio.ac.jp.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2023 Aug 25; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 5187. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 Aug 25.
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40876-9
Abstrakt: Spintronic devices are based on heterojunctions of two materials with different magnetic and electronic properties. Although an energy barrier is naturally formed even at the interface of metallic heterojunctions, its impact on spin transport has been overlooked. Here, using diffusive spin Hall currents, we provide evidence that the inherent energy barrier governs the spin transport even in metallic systems. We find a sizable field-like torque, much larger than the damping-like counterpart, in Ni 81 Fe 19 /Bi 0.1 Sb 0.9 bilayers. This is a distinct signature of barrier-mediated spin-orbit torques, which is consistent with our theory that predicts a strong modification of the spin mixing conductance induced by the energy barrier. Our results suggest that the spin mixing conductance and the corresponding spin-orbit torques are strongly altered by minimizing the work function difference in the heterostructure. These findings provide a new mechanism to control spin transport and spin torque phenomena by interfacial engineering of metallic heterostructures.
(© 2023. Springer Nature Limited.)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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