Spin-Hall Magnetoresistance in Platinum on Yttrium Iron Garnet: Dependence on platinum thickness and in-plane/out-of-plane magnetization

TL;DR

This study investigates how Spin-Hall Magnetoresistance in platinum on yttrium iron garnet varies with platinum thickness and magnetization orientation, confirming theoretical models and highlighting interface condition effects.

Contribution

It provides experimental validation of SMR dependence on magnetization direction and interface quality, comparing different deposition techniques.

Findings

SMR signal depends on magnetization orientation.

SMR and spin pumping are sensitive to interface conditions.

Different deposition methods affect SMR magnitude.

Abstract

The occurrence of Spin-Hall Magnetoresistance (SMR) in platinum (Pt) on top of yttrium iron garnet (YIG) has been investigated, for both in-plane and out-of-plane applied magnetic fields and for different Pt thicknesses [3, 4, 8 and 35nm]. Our experiments show that the SMR signal directly depends on the in-plane and out-of-plane magnetization directions of the YIG. This confirms the theoretical description, where the SMR occurs due to the interplay of spin-orbit interaction in the Pt and spin-mixing at the YIG/Pt interface. Additionally, the sensitivity of the SMR and spin pumping signals on the YIG/Pt interface conditions is shown by comparing two different deposition techniques (e-beam evaporation and dc sputtering).