Perpendicular magnetization reversal in Pt/[Co/Ni]3/Al multilayers via the spin Hall effect of Pt

J.-C Rojas-Sánchez,J.-M George,J Sampaio,H Jaffrès,N Reyren,S Collin,A Mougin,P Laczkowski,K Bouzehouane

doi:10.1063/1.4942672

Abstract

We experimentally investigate the current-induced magnetization reversal in Pt/[Co/Ni]3/Al multilayers combining the anomalous Hall effect and magneto-optical Kerr effect techniques in crossbar geometry. The magnetization reversal occurs through nucleation and propagation of a domain of opposite polarity for a current density of the order of 3 × 1011 A/m2. In these experiments, we demonstrate a full control of each stage: (i) the Ørsted field controls the domain nucleation and (ii) domain-wall propagation occurs by spin torque from the Pt spin Hall effect. This scenario requires an in-plane magnetic field to tune the domain wall center orientation along the current for efficient domain wall propagation. Indeed, as nucleated, domain walls are chiral and Néel-like due to the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction.

Highlights

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In these experiments we demonstrate a full control of each stage: i)the Ørsted field controls the domain nucleation and ii) domain-wall propagation occurs by spin torque from the Pt spin Hall effect
An alternative route for magnetization control is by means of the so-called spin-orbit torque (SOT), which uses materials with a strong spin-orbit coupling (SOC) such as Pt, to generate spin currents along the perpendicular directions to the charge current via its spin Hall effect (SHE)

Summary

Introduction

HAL is a multi-disciplinary open access archive for the deposit and dissemination of scientific research documents, whether they are published or not. Perpendicular magnetization reversal in Pt/[Co/Ni]3/Al multilayers via the spin Hall effect of Pt. Applied Physics Letters, American Institute of Physics, 2016, 108. Perpendicular magnetization reversal in Pt/[Co/Ni]3/Al multilayers via the Spin Hall Effect of Pt

Results

Conclusion