Spin-Orbit-Torque Efficiency in Compensated Ferrimagnetic Cobalt-Terbium Alloys

Joseph Finley and Luqiao Liu
Phys. Rev. Applied 6, 054001 – Published 2 November 2016

Abstract

Despite the potential advantages of information storage in antiferromagnetically coupled materials, it remains unclear whether one can control the magnetic-moment orientation efficiently because of the canceled magnetic moment. Here, we report spin-orbit-torque-induced magnetization switching of ferrimagnetic Co1xTbx films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Current-induced switching is demonstrated in all of the studied film compositions, including those near the magnetization compensation point. The spin-orbit-torque-induced effective field is further quantified in the domain-wall motion regime. A divergent behavior that scales with the inverse of magnetic moment is confirmed close to the compensation point, which is consistent with angular momentum conservation. Moreover, we also quantify the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction energy in the Ta/Co1xTbx system and we find that the energy density increases as a function of the Tb concentration. The demonstrated spin-orbit-torque switching, in combination with the fast magnetic dynamics and minimal net magnetization of ferrimagnetic alloys, promises spintronic devices that are faster and with higher density than traditional ferromagnetic systems.

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  • Received 12 August 2016

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.6.054001

© 2016 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Joseph Finley and Luqiao Liu

  • Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts 02139, USA

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Vol. 6, Iss. 5 — November 2016

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