Observation of spin-orbit magnetoresistance in metallic thin films on magnetic insulators.

ABSTRACT: A magnetoresistance (MR) effect induced by the Rashba spin-orbit interaction was predicted, but not yet observed, in bilayers consisting of normal metal and ferromagnetic insulator. We present an experimental observation of this new type of spin-orbit MR (SOMR) effect in the Cu[Pt]/Y₃Fe₅O₁₂ (YIG) bilayer structure, where the Cu/YIG interface is decorated with nanosize Pt islands. This new MR is apparently not caused by the bulk spin-orbit interaction because of the negligible spin-orbit interaction in Cu and the discontinuity of the Pt islands. This SOMR disappears when the Pt islands are absent or located away from the Cu/YIG interface; therefore, we can unambiguously ascribe it to the Rashba spin-orbit interaction at the interface enhanced by the Pt decor

SUBMITTER: Zhou L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5768179 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature