Electrical control over perpendicular magnetization switching driven by spin-orbit torques

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates electrical control of perpendicular magnetization switching using spin-orbit torques, by tuning damping-like and field-like torques with a bias current in specific material systems.

Contribution

It introduces a novel electrical method to control magnetization switching by applying a bias current to tune spin-orbit torques in different material systems.

Findings

Symmetrical control of switching current in Pt/Co/MgO.

Asymmetrical control in $ ext{α}$-Ta/CoFeB/MgO.

Identification of field-like and damping-like torque influences.

Abstract

Flexible control of magnetization switching by electrical manners is crucial for applications of spin-orbitronics. Besides of a switching current that is parallel to an applied field, a bias current that is normal to the switching current is introduced to tune the magnitude of effective damping-like and field-like torques and further to electrically control magnetization switching. Symmetrical and asymmetrical control over the critical switching current by the bias current with opposite polarities is both realized in Pt/Co/MgO and $\alpha$-Ta/CoFeB/MgO systems, respectively. This research not only identifies the influences of field-like and damping-like torques on switching process but also demonstrates an electrical method to control it.