Spin-Swapping Transport and Torques in Ultrathin Magnetic Bilayers

Hamed Ben Mohamed Saidaoui and A. Manchon
Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 036601 – Published 12 July 2016
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Abstract

Planar spin transport in disordered ultrathin magnetic bilayers comprising a ferromagnet and a normal metal (typically used for spin pumping, spin Seebeck and spin-orbit torque experiments) is investigated theoretically. Using a tight-binding model that puts the extrinsic spin Hall effect and spin swapping on equal footing, we show that the nature of spin-orbit coupled transport dramatically depends on the ratio between the layer thickness d and the mean free path λ. While the spin Hall effect dominates in the diffusive limit (dλ), spin swapping dominates in the Knudsen regime (dλ). A remarkable consequence is that spin swapping induces a substantial fieldlike torque in the Knudsen regime.

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  • Received 11 November 2015

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.036601

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Hamed Ben Mohamed Saidaoui and A. Manchon*

  • Physical Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Thuwal 23955-6900, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

  • *aurelien.manchon@kaust.edu.sa
  • hamed.saidaoui@gmail.com

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Issue

Vol. 117, Iss. 3 — 15 July 2016

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