Impact of inherent energy barrier on spin-orbit torques in magnetic-metal/semimetal heterojunctions
Gao, Tenghua; Qaiumzadeh, Alireza; Troncoso, Roberto E.; Haku, Satoshi; An, Hongyu; Nakayama, Hiroki; Tazaki, Yuya; Zhang, Song; Tu, Rong; Asami, Akio; Brataas, Arne; Ando, Kazuya
Peer reviewed, Journal article
Published version
Permanent lenke
https://hdl.handle.net/11250/3102322Utgivelsesdato
2023Metadata
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- Institutt for fysikk [2802]
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Originalversjon
10.1038/s41467-023-40876-9Sammendrag
Spintronic devices are based on heterojunctions of two materials with different magnetic and electronic properties. Although an energy barrier is naturally formed even at the interface of metallic heterojunctions, its impact on spin transport has been overlooked. Here, using diffusive spin Hall currents, we provide evidence that the inherent energy barrier governs the spin transport even in metallic systems. We find a sizable field-like torque, much larger than the damping-like counterpart, in Ni81Fe19/Bi0.1Sb0.9 bilayers. This is a distinct signature of barrier-mediated spin-orbit torques, which is consistent with our theory that predicts a strong modification of the spin mixing conductance induced by the energy barrier. Our results suggest that the spin mixing conductance and the corresponding spin-orbit torques are strongly altered by minimizing the work function difference in the heterostructure. These findings provide a new mechanism to control spin transport and spin torque phenomena by interfacial engineering of metallic heterostructures. Impact of inherent energy barrier on spin-orbit torques in magnetic-metal/semimetal heterojunctions