{
  "id": "1311.0929",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "2013-11-04T23:56:12.000Z",
  "updated": "2013-11-04T23:56:12.000Z",
  "title": "Switching of perpendicular magnetization by spin-orbit torques in the absence of external magnetic fields",
  "authors": [
    "Guoqiang Yu",
    "Pramey Upadhyaya",
    "Yabin Fan",
    "Juan G Alzate",
    "Wanjun Jiang",
    "Kin L. Wong",
    "So Takei",
    "Scott A Bender",
    "Murong Lang",
    "Jianshi Tang",
    "Yaroslav Tserkovnyak",
    "Pedram Khalili Amiri",
    "Kang L. Wang"
  ],
  "categories": [
    "cond-mat.mes-hall"
  ],
  "abstract": "Magnetization switching by current-induced spin-orbit torques (SOTs) is of great interest due to its potential applications for ultralow-power memory and logic devices. In order to be of technological interest, SOT effects need to switch ferromagnets with a perpendicular (out-of-plane) magnetization. Currently, however, this typically requires the presence of an in-plane external magnetic field, which is a major obstacle for practical applications. Here we report for the first time on SOT-induced switching of out-of-plane magnetized Ta/Co20Fe60B20/TaOx structures without the need for any external magnetic fields, driven by in-plane currents. This is achieved by introducing a lateral structural asymmetry into our devices during fabrication. The results show that a new field-like SOT is induced by in-plane currents in such asymmetric structures. The direction of the current-induced effective field corresponding to this new field-like SOT is out-of-plane, which facilitates switching of perpendicular magnets. This work thus provides a pathway towards bias-field-free SOT devices.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "2013-11-04T23:56:12.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "spin-orbit torques",
      "perpendicular magnetization",
      "in-plane currents",
      "in-plane external magnetic field",
      "bias-field-free sot devices"
    ],
    "tags": [
      "journal article"
    ],
    "publication": {
      "doi": "10.1038/nnano.2014.94",
      "journal": "Nature Nanotechnology",
      "year": 2014,
      "month": "Jul",
      "volume": 9,
      "number": 7,
      "pages": 548
    },
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 0,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable",
      "adsabs": "2014NatNa...9..548Y"
    }
  }
}