Optical spin-orbit torque in heavy metal-ferromagnet heterostructures

Gyung-Min Choi (), Jung Hyun Oh, Dong-Kyu Lee, Seo-Won Lee, Kun Woo Kim, Mijin Lim, Byoung-Chul Min, Kyung-Jin Lee () and Hyun-Woo Lee ()
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Gyung-Min Choi: Sungkyunkwan University
Jung Hyun Oh: Korea University
Dong-Kyu Lee: Korea University
Seo-Won Lee: Korea University
Kun Woo Kim: Institute for Basic Science (IBS)
Mijin Lim: Pohang University of Science and Technology
Byoung-Chul Min: Korea Institute of Science and Technology
Kyung-Jin Lee: Korea University
Hyun-Woo Lee: Pohang University of Science and Technology

Nature Communications, 2020, vol. 11, issue 1, 1-7

Abstract: Abstract Spin current generation through the spin-orbit interaction in non-magnetic materials lies at the heart of spintronics. When the generated spin current is injected to a ferromagnet, it produces spin-orbit torque and manipulates magnetization efficiently. Optically generated spin currents are expected to be superior to their electrical counterparts in terms of the manipulation speed. Here we report optical spin-orbit torques in heavy metal/ferromagnet heterostructures. The strong spin-orbit coupling of heavy metals induces photo-excited carriers to be spin-polarized, and their transport from heavy metals to ferromagnets induces a torque on magnetization. Our results demonstrate that heavy metals can generate spin-orbit torque not only electrically but also optically.

Date: 2020
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DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-15247-3

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