Large voltage-induced modification of spin-orbit torques in Pt/Co/GdOx

Journal Article · Mon Dec 01 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4903041· OSTI ID:22402409

Emori, Satoru; Bauer, Uwe; Woo, Seonghoon; Beach, Geoffrey S. D., ^[1]

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1. Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139 (United States)

We report on large modifications of current-induced spin-orbit torques in a gated Pt/Co/Gd-oxide microstrip due to voltage-driven O{sup 2−} migration. The Slonczewski-like and field-like torques are quantified using a low-frequency harmonic technique based on the polar magneto-optical Kerr effect. Voltage-induced oxidation of Co enhances the Slonczewski-like torque by as much as an order of magnitude and simultaneously reduces the anisotropy energy barrier by a factor of ∼5. Such magneto-ionic tuning of interfacial spin-orbit effects may significantly enhance the efficiency of magnetization switching and provide additional degrees of freedom in spintronic devices.

• OSTI ID: 22402409
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 105, Issue 22; 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
71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
COBALT
ELECTRIC POTENTIAL
GADOLINIUM OXIDES
KERR EFFECT
L-S COUPLING
MAGNETIZATION
OXIDATION
PLATINUM
TORQUE