Setting of the magnetic structure of chiral kagome antiferromagnets by a seeded spin-orbit torque.
basic_science · Level V
Where this comes from
- Record sourced from PubMed, PMID 35704587.
- Also identified by DOI 10.1126/sciadv.abo5930 and PMC identifier 9200275.
- Licence recorded as CC BY.
- The licence permits redistribution, so the abstract is shown in full and the full text is available from the publisher.
Abstract
The current-induced spin-orbit torque switching of ferromagnets has had huge impact in spintronics. However, short spin-diffusion lengths limit the thickness of switchable ferromagnetic layers, thereby limiting their thermal stability. Here, we report a previously unobserved seeded spin-orbit torque (SSOT) by which current can set the magnetic states of even thick layers of the chiral kagome antiferromagnet Mn<sub>3</sub>Sn. The mechanism involves setting the orientation of the antiferromagnetic domains in a thin region at the interface with spin currents arising from an adjacent heavy metal while also heating the layer above its magnetic ordering temperature. This interface region seeds the resulting spin texture of the entire layer as it cools down and, thereby, overcomes the thickness limitation of conventional spin-orbit torques. SSOT switching in Mn<sub>3</sub>Sn can be extended beyond chiral antiferromagnets to diverse magnetic systems and provides a path toward the development of highly efficient, high-speed, and thermally stable spintronic devices.