Current induced torques in structures with ultra-thin IrMn antiferromagnet

TL;DR

This study investigates current-induced torques in ultra-thin IrMn antiferromagnetic layers, revealing temperature-dependent behavior and the influence of antiferromagnetic order on spintronic torque mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides the first electrical measurements of torques in sub-2nm IrMn layers, highlighting the role of antiferromagnetic phase in torque behavior.

Findings

Antiferromagnetic phase reduces torque at high temperatures.

Torque sign flips at low temperatures indicating antiferromagnetic influence.

Torque signatures observed even without ferromagnetic layers.

Abstract

Relativistic current induced torques and devices utilizing antiferromagnets have been independently considered as two promising new directions in spintronics research. Here we report electrical measurements of the torques in structures comprising a $\sim1$~nm thick layer of an antiferromagnet IrMn. The reduced N\'eel temperature and the thickness comparable to the spin-diffusion length allow us to investigate the role of the antiferromagnetic order in the ultra-thin IrMn films in the observed torques. In a Ta/IrMn/CoFeB structure, IrMn in the high-temperature phase diminishes the torque in the CoFeB ferromagnet. At low temperatures, the antidamping torque in CoFeB flips sign as compared to the reference Ta/CoFeB structure, suggesting that IrMn in the antiferromagnetic phase governs the net torque acting on the ferromagnet. At low temperatures, current induced torque signatures are observed also in a Ta/IrMn structure comprising no ferromagnetic layer.