Estimation of spin-orbit torques in the presence of current-induced magnon creation and annihilation
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: Current-induced spin-orbit torques (SOTs) are widely used to control magnetization in spintronic devices. However, the electrical injection of spin currents, which drives the SOTs, also generates and annihilates magnons, affecting both magnetization and magnetoresistance. This work demonstrates that neglecting magnonic effects can significantly overestimate the damping-like torque and misestimate the magnitude and sign of the field-like torque. By combining magneto-optical Kerr effect and magnetotransport measurements, the authors propose here a method for accurately assessing SOTs. These findings highlight the importance of considering magnon contributions to improve the reliability of SOT quantification across different material systems.
Authors: Paul Noel, Emir Karadža, Richard Schlitz, Pol Welter, Charles-Henri Lambert, Luca Nessi, Federico Binda, Christian L. Degen, Pietro Gambardella
Institutions: ETH Zurich, Politecnico di Milano
Language: English
Subfield: Atomic and Molecular Physics, and Optics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W4409313233