Asymmetry in effective fields of spin-orbit torques in Pt/Co/Pt stacks

Journal Article · Mon Jan 06 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4861459· OSTI ID:22257121

Cheng Huang, Jian; Tran, Michael; Eason, Kwaku ^[1]

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1. Data Storage Institute, Agency for Science Technology and Research (A-STAR), 5 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore 117608 (Singapore)

Measurements of switching via spin-orbit coupling mechanisms are discussed for a pair of inverted Pt/Co/Pt stacks with asymmetrical Pt thicknesses. Taking into account the planar Hall effect contribution, effective fields of spin-orbit torques (SOT) are evaluated using lock-in measurements of the first and second harmonics of the Hall voltage. Reversing the stack structure leads to significant asymmetries in the switching behavior, including clear evidence of a nonlinear current dependence of the transverse effective field. Our results demonstrate potentially complex interplay in devices with all-metallic interfaces utilizing SOT.

• OSTI ID: 22257121
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 104, Issue 1; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
COBALT
HALL EFFECT
L-S COUPLING
PLATINUM
SPIN
STACKS