Work

Enhancement of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy and transmission of spin-Hall-effect-induced spin currents by a Hf spacer layer in W/Hf/CoFeB/MgO layer structures

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: We report that strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the ferromagnetic layer in a W/CoFeB/MgO multilayer structure can be established by inserting a Hf layer as thin as 0.25 nm between the W and CoFeB layers. The Hf spacer also allows transmission of spin currents generated by an in-plane charge current in the W layer to apply strong spin torque on the CoFeB, thereby enabling current-driven magnetic switching. The antidamping-like and field-like components of the spin torque exerted on a 1 nm CoFeB layer are of comparable magnitudes in this geometry. Both components originate from the spin Hall effect in the underlying W layer.

Source: Applied Physics Letters

DOI: 10.1063/1.4866965

Authors: Chi-Feng Pai, Minh-Hai Nguyen, Carina Belvin, Luis Henrique Vilela-Leão, D. C. Ralph, R. A. Buhrman

Institutions: Cornell University, Wellesley College

Language: English

Topic: Magnetic properties of thin films

Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics

Field: Physics and Astronomy

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green