Magnetization switching by current in an elemental ferromagnetic single layer

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that current-induced magnetization switching can occur in a simple elemental ferromagnetic nickel single layer, revealing a new intrinsic mechanism different from conventional spin-orbit torques.

Contribution

It shows that magnetization switching is a general phenomenon in ferromagnets and introduces an alternative mechanism involving an effective transverse magnetic field.

Findings

Magnetization switching observed in nickel single layer.

Switching mechanism differs from conventional spin-orbit torques.

Current induces an out-of-plane effective magnetic field.

Abstract

Current-induced magnetization switching, a fundamental phenomenon related to spin-transport of electrons, enables non-voltaic and fast information write, facilitating applications in low-power memory and logic devices. However, magnetization switching by spin-orbit torques is usually attributed to current flowing in the nonmagnetic metal layer of multilayers or in magnetic alloys with heavy elements. Here, we report perpendicular magnetization switching induced by current flowing in an elemental ferromagnet nickel single layer. This prototype structure demonstrates that current-induced magnetization switching is a general phenomenon of magnet. The results suggest that the current induces an effective transverse magnetic field with an out-of-plane component leading to the magnetization switching, different to the conventional spin-orbit torques. Our work opens the new insight and reveals the intrinsic mechanism of current-induced torques.