Author(s): Zhu, LJ (Zhu, Lijun); Ralph, DC (Ralph, D. C.); Buhrman, RA (Buhrman, R. A.)

Source: PHYSICAL REVIEW APPLIED Volume: 15 Issue: 2 Article Number: 024059 DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevApplied.15.024059 Published: FEB 24 2021

Abstract: Spin-orbit torque can drive electrical switching of magnetic layers. Here, we report that, at least for micrometer-sized samples, there is no simple correlation between the efficiency of dampinglike spin orbit torque (xi(j)(DL)) and the critical switching current density of perpendicularly magnetized spin-current generator-ferromagnet heterostructures. We find that the values of xi(j)(DL) based on switching current densities can either under-or overestimate xi(j)(DL) by up to 10 times in a domain-wall depinning analysis, while, in the macrospin analysis based on the switching current density, xi(j)(DL) can be overestimated by up to 1000 times. When comparing the relative strengths of xi(j)(DL) of spin-current generators, the critical switching current densities by themselves are a poor predictor.

Accession Number: WOS:000628654300001

Author Identifiers:

Author        Web of Science ResearcherID        ORCID Number

Zhu, Lijun         AAK-6127-2021         0000-0001-8750-3847

ISSN: 2331-7019

Full Text: https://journals.aps.org/prapplied/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.15.024059