Spin-Orbit Torque Booster in an Antiferromagnet via Facilitating a Global Antiferromagnetic Order: A Route toward an Energy-Efficient Memory.

ABSTRACT: Spin transport and the associated spin torque effects in antiferromagnets (AFMs) are scientifically interesting but have remained elusive due to the varied observations of spin transport in AFMs. This study revisits the role of a global Néel order in nickel oxide (NiO) facilitated through a spin-orbit torque (SOT) and examines the enhanced SOT efficiency in a heavy metal (W)/AFM (NiO)/ferromagnet (FM, CoFeB) trilayer with varying NiO thicknesses ranging from 1 to 5 nm. At the as-grown state, the Néel order of NiO is randomly oriented due to the polycrystalline nature of the film structure, leading to increased spin absorption and blocking spin transport from the adjacent W layer. When the spin current amplitude exceeds a threshold value, SOT enables reorientation of the Néel order in NiO t

SUBMITTER: Chang HK 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11615842 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature