Spin-momentum locking and spin-orbit torques in magnetic nano-heterojunctions composed of Weyl semimetal WTe2

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 becom...

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Published in:Nature communications Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 1 - 10
Main Authors: Li, Peng, Wu, Weikang, Wen, Yan, Zhang, Chenhui, Zhang, Junwei, Zhang, Senfu, Yu, Zhiming, Yang, Shengyuan A., Manchon, A., Zhang, Xi-xiang
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 28.09.2018
Nature Publishing Group
Nature Portfolio
Subjects:
639/301/119/1001
639/301/119/544
Bilayers
Devices
Heterojunctions
Humanities and Social Sciences
Locking
Low temperature
Magnetic fields
Momentum
multidisciplinary
Nanotechnology devices
Physics
Science
Science (multidisciplinary)
Spin-orbit interactions
Spintronics
Torque
ISSN:2041-1723, 2041-1723
Online Access:Get full text
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Summary: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 2 /Py bilayers of nano-devices but not observed in the a -axis of WTe 2 /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 2 . The Fermi arcs, topological surface states of Weyl semimetals can enable the intriguing spin control and facilitate topological spintronics. Here the authors report the spin-orbit torque at the interface of WTe 2 /Py and attribute it to the enhanced spin accumulation by the spin-momentum locking effect of the Fermi arcs of WTe 2 .
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ISSN:2041-1723
2041-1723
DOI:10.1038/s41467-018-06518-1