Spin-orbit torques in NbSe$_2$/Permalloy bilayers

TL;DR

This study measures spin-orbit torques in NbSe₂/Permalloy bilayers, revealing both expected and novel torque components, with implications for spintronic device design and understanding of symmetry-breaking effects.

Contribution

It reports the first measurements of current-induced spin-orbit torques in NbSe₂/Permalloy bilayers, including an in-plane antidamping torque and strain-induced symmetry-breaking effects.

Findings

Detection of out-of-plane Oersted torque.

Observation of in-plane antidamping torque with specific conductivity.

Identification of a strain-induced in-plane field-like torque component.

Abstract

We present measurements of current-induced spin-orbit torques generated by NbSe$_2$, a fully-metallic transition-metal dichalcogenide material, made using the spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance (ST-FMR) technique with NbSe$_{2}$/Permalloy bilayers. In addition to the out-of-plane Oersted torque expected from current flow in the metallic NbSe$_{2}$ layer, we also observe an in-plane antidamping torque with torque conductivity $\sigma_{S} \approx 10^{3} (\hbar / 2e)$($\Omega$m)$^{-1}$ and indications of a weak field-like contribution to the out-of-plane torque oriented opposite to the Oersted torque. Furthermore, in some samples we also measure an in-plane field-like torque with the form $\hat{m} \times \hat{z}$, where $\hat{m}$ is the Permalloy magnetization direction and $\hat{z}$ is perpendicular to the sample plane. The size of this component varies strongly between samples and is not correlated with the NbSe$_{2}$ thickness. A torque of this form is not allowed by the bulk symmetries of NbSe$_{2}$, but is consistent with symmetry breaking by a uniaxial strain that might result during device fabrication.