Electric-Field Control of Spin-Orbit Torques in Perpendicularly Magnetized W/CoFeB/MgO Films
- 26 May 2020
- journal article
- research article
- Published by American Physical Society (APS) in Physical Review Letters
- Vol. 124 (21), 217701
- https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.124.217701
Abstract
Controlling magnetism by electric fields offers a highly attractive perspective for designing future generations of energy-efficient information technologies. Here, we demonstrate that the magnitude of current-induced spin-orbit torques in thin perpendicularly magnetized CoFeB films can be tuned and even increased by electric-field generated piezoelectric strain. Using theoretical calculations, we uncover that the subtle interplay of spin-orbit coupling, crystal symmetry, and orbital polarization is at the core of the observed strain dependence of spin-orbit torques. Our results open a path to integrating two energy efficient spin manipulation approaches, the electric-field-induced strain and the current-induced magnetization switching, thereby enabling novel device concepts.Funding Information
- Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (KL1811/18 (318612841))
- H2020 Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (860060)
- RWTH Aachen University
- Korea Institute of Science and Technology Information (2E30600)
- National Research Council of Science and Technology (CAP-16-01-KIST)
- Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning
- Collaborative Research Center (A01—290396061/TRR173, A11—268565370/TRR173, B02—290319996/TRR173)
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