Spin-momentum locking and spin-orbit torques in magnetic nano-heterojunctions composed of Weyl semimetal WTe<sub>2</sub>.
basic_science · Level V
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- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 30266960.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1038/s41467-018-06518-1 and PMC identifier 6162210.
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Abstract
Spin-orbit torque has recently been intensively investigated for the purposes of manipulating the magnetization in magnetic nano-devices and understanding fundamental physics. Therefore, the search for novel materials or material combinations that exhibit a strong enough spin-torque effect has become one of the top priorities in this field of spintronics. Weyl semimetal, a new topological material that features open Fermi arc with strong spin-orbit coupling and spin-momentum locking effect, is naturally expected to exhibit an enhanced spin-torque effect in magnetic nano-devices. Here we observe a significantly enhanced spin conductivity, which is associated with the field-like torque at low temperatures. The enhancement is obtained in the b-axis WTe<sub>2</sub>/Py bilayers of nano-devices but not observed in the a-axis of WTe<sub>2</sub>/Py nano-devices, which can be ascribed to the enhanced spin accumulation by the spin-momentum locking effect of the Fermi arcs of the Weyl semimetal WTe<sub>2</sub>.