Symmetry Control of Unconventional Spin-Orbit Torques in IrO.

Spin-orbit torques generated by a spin current are key to magnetic switching in spintronic applications. The polarization of the spin current dictates the direction of switching required for energy-efficient devices. Conventionally, the polarizations of these spin currents are restricted to be along a certain direction due to the symmetry of the material allowing only for efficient in-plane magnetic switching.

Novel Spin-Orbit Torque Generation at Room Temperature in an All-Oxide Epitaxial La Sr MnO /SrIrO System.

Spin-orbit torques (SOTs) that arise from materials with large spin-orbit coupling offer a new pathway for energy-efficient and fast magnetic information storage. SOTs in conventional heavy metals and topological insulators are explored extensively, while 5d transition metal oxides, which also host ions with strong spin-orbit coupling, are a relatively new territory in the field of spintronics. An all-oxide, SrTiO (STO)//La Sr MnO (LSMO)/SrIrO (SIO) heterostructure with lattice-matched crystal structure is synthesized, exhibiting an epitaxial and atomically sharp interface between the ferromagnetic LSMO and the high spin-orbit-coupled metal SIO.

Manipulation of the van der Waals Magnet CrGeTe by Spin-Orbit Torques.

We report measurements of current-induced thermoelectric and spin-orbit torque effects within devices in which multilayers of the semiconducting two-dimensional van der Waals magnet CrGeTe (CGT) are integrated with Pt and Ta metal overlayers. We show that the magnetic orientation of the CGT can be detected accurately either electrically (using an anomalous Hall effect) or optically (using magnetic circular dichroism) with good consistency. The samples exhibit large thermoelectric effects, but nevertheless, the spin-orbit torque can be measured quantitatively using the angle-dependent second harmonic Hall technique.