Enhancement of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and transmission of spin-Hall-effect-induced spin currents by a Hf spacer layer in W/Hf/CoFeB/MgO layer structures

Journal Article · Mon Feb 24 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4866965· OSTI ID:22293059

Pai, Chi-Feng; Nguyen, Minh-Hai; Vilela-Leão, Luis Henrique; Belvin, Carina ^[1]; Ralph, D. C. ^[2]

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1. Department of Physics, Wellesley College, Massachusetts 02481 (United States)
2. Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853 (United States)

We report that strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the ferromagnetic layer in a W/CoFeB/MgO multilayer structure can be established by inserting a Hf layer as thin as 0.25 nm between the W and CoFeB layers. The Hf spacer also allows transmission of spin currents generated by an in-plane charge current in the W layer to apply strong spin torque on the CoFeB, thereby enabling current-driven magnetic switching. The antidamping-like and field-like components of the spin torque exerted on a 1 nm CoFeB layer are of comparable magnitudes in this geometry. Both components originate from the spin Hall effect in the underlying W layer.

• OSTI ID: 22293059
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 104, Issue 8; 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
ANISOTROPY
COBALT BORIDES
CURRENTS
HAFNIUM
HALL EFFECT
IRON BORIDES
LAYERS
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
SPACERS
SPIN
TORQUE
TRANSMISSION
TUNGSTEN