Coherent sub-nanosecond switching of perpendicular magnetization by the field-like spin-orbit torque without external magnetic field

Abstract

Current-induced spin-orbit torque (SOT) is a very recently discovered phenomenon which provides efficient ways to control and manipulate the magnetization. It allows to use the spin-orbit interaction in the bulk or at the interface of a heavy metal (HM) to inject angular momentum in an adjacent ferromagnet (FM) [1-3]. Even though its origin either from Rashba or spin Hall effects is still under debate, switching the magnetization of nanostructures by spin-orbit torques is very promising for applications both in terms of speed and energetic efficiency. In this work, we study the influence of one of the components of the torques, the field-like torque, for example in Ta/CoFeB/MgO trilayers [4]. This study focuses on the macrospin-based magnetization switching of small devices with a uniform magnetization (50×50 nm2) which are of significant interest for applications.