The magnetization reversal driven by spin-orbit-assisted spin-transfer torque

Abstract

As the data writing scheme of magnetization reversal driven by spin-transfer torque can overcome the shortcomings of traditional magnetic-field writing mechanism, it has become a mainstream way of implementing information writing in magnetic random access memory. However, the explosive growth of information shows higher requirements for data storage and information processing, thus magnetic random access memories based on spin-transfer torque data writing method pose several issues, including barrier reliability and limited storage speed. Recent experimental studies have shown that the spin-orbit torque through the spin Hall effect or Rashba effect in heavy-metal/ferromagnetic bilayer structures has the potential advantages in overcoming these limitations. They can also be used to drive magnetization to achieve rapid reversal. Especially, the three-terminal magnetic tunnel junction separates data reading from writing current. It has the advantages of faster writing speed and better stability and thus becomes the most promising magnetic storage technique at present. The magnetization reversal driven by spin-orbit-assisted spin-transfer torque in a three-terminal magnetic tunnel junction is studied theoretically in this work. By linearizing the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation with the additional spin-transfer torque term and spin-orbit torque term in the spherical coordinates, two coupled differential equations and the new equilibrium directions are obtained. With the stability analysis of the new equilibrium directions, the phase diagrams defined in parameter space spanned by the current densities of spin-transfer and spin-orbit torques are established. There are several magnetic states in the phase diagrams, including quasi-parallel stable states, quasi-antiparallel stable states, and bistable states. By adjusting the current density of the spin-transfer torque, the magnetization reversal between two stable states is realized. It is found that the magnetization reversal time is greatly reduced with the assisting of spin-orbit torque, and it decreases with the augment of current density of spin-orbit torque. Meanwhile, the zero-field magnetization reversal can be realized through the interplay between spin-orbit torque and spin-transfer torque. In addition, compared with the damping-like term of spin-orbit torque, the field-like one plays a leading role in magnetization reversal. The presence of field-like term of spin-orbit torque can also reduce the reversal time that decreases with the increase of the ratio of field-like torque to damping-like one.