Spin-orbit torques and magnetization switching in Gd/Fe multilayers generated by current injection in NiCu alloys

Autor: Nasr, Federica, Binda, Federico, Lambert, Charles-Henri, Sala, Giacomo, Noël, Paul, Gambardella, Pietro
Rok vydání: 2023
Předmět:
Zdroj: Appl. Phys. Lett. 123, 262403 (2023)
Druh dokumentu: Working Paper
DOI: 10.1063/5.0178878
Popis: Light transition metals have recently emerged as a sustainable material class for efficient spin-charge interconversion. We report measurements of current-induced spin-orbit torques generated by Ni$_{1-x}$Cu$_{x}$ alloys in perpendicularly magnetized ferrimagnetic Gd/Fe multilayers. We show that the spin-orbit torque efficiency of Ni$_{1-x}$Cu$_{x}$ increases with the Ni/Cu atomic ratio, reaching values comparable to those of Pt for Ni$_{55}$Cu$_{45}$. Furthermore, we demonstrate magnetization switching of a 20-nm-thick Gd/Fe multilayer with a threshold current that decreases with increasing Ni concentration, similar to the spin-orbit torque efficiency. Our findings show that Ni$_{1-x}$Cu$_{x}$$-$based magnetic heterostructures allow for efficient control of the magnetization by electric currents.
Databáze: arXiv