Current-induced spin-orbit torques in ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic systems

A. Manchon, J. Železný, I. M. Miron, T. Jungwirth, J. Sinova, A. Thiaville, K. Garello, and P. Gambardella
Rev. Mod. Phys. 91, 035004 – Published 9 September 2019

Abstract

Spin-orbit coupling in inversion-asymmetric magnetic crystals and structures has emerged as a powerful tool to generate complex magnetic textures, interconvert charge and spin under applied current, and control magnetization dynamics. Current-induced spin-orbit torques mediate the transfer of angular momentum from the lattice to the spin system, leading to sustained magnetic oscillations or switching of ferromagnetic as well as antiferromagnetic structures. The manipulation of magnetic order, domain walls, and skyrmions by spin-orbit torques provides evidence of the microscopic interactions between charge and spin in a variety of materials and opens novel strategies to design spintronic devices with potentially high impact in data storage, nonvolatile logic, and magnonic applications. This paper reviews recent progress in the field of spin orbitronics, focusing on theoretical models, material properties, and experimental results obtained on bulk noncentrosymmetric conductors and multilayer heterostructures, including metals, semiconductors, and topological insulator systems. Relevant aspects for improving the understanding and optimizing the efficiency of nonequilibrium spin-orbit phenomena in future nanoscale devices are also discussed.

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  • Received 25 January 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/RevModPhys.91.035004

© 2019 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

A. Manchon*

  • King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST), Physical Science and Engineering Division (PSE), and Computer, Electrical, and Mathematical Science and Engineering (CEMSE), Thuwal, 23955-6900, Saudi Arabia

J. Železný

  • Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 162 00 Praha, Czech Republic

I. M. Miron

  • University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, CEA, INAC-SPINTEC, F-38000 Grenoble, France

T. Jungwirth

  • Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 162 00 Praha, Czech Republic and School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Nottingham, Nottingham NG7 2RD, United Kingdom

J. Sinova

  • Institut für Physik, Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, 55128 Mainz Germany and Institute of Physics, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, 162 00 Praha, Czech Republic

A. Thiaville§

  • Laboratoire de Physique des Solides, Univ. Paris-Sud, CNRS UMR 8502-91405 Orsay Cedex, France

K. Garello

  • IMEC, Kapeeldreef 75, 3001 Leuven, Belgium

P. Gambardella

  • ETH Zürich, Hönggerbergring 64, CH-8093 Zürich, Switzerland

  • *aurelien.manchon@kaust.edu.sa
  • jungw@fzu.cz
  • sinova@uni-mainz.de
  • §andre.thiaville@u-psud.fr
  • pietro.gambardella@mat.ethz.ch

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Issue

Vol. 91, Iss. 3 — July - September 2019

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