Dresden 2014 – scientific programme

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MA: Fachverband Magnetismus

MA 24: Focus Session: Chiral domain walls in ultrathin films

MA 24.5: Topical Talk

Wednesday, April 2, 2014, 11:45–12:15, BEY 118

Phenomenology of current-induced spin-orbit torques — •Kjetil M. D. Hals — The Niels Bohr International Academy, Niels Bohr Institute, 2100 Copenhagen, Denmark

Recent developments have shown that currents can cause magnetization torques via relativistic, intrinsic spin-orbit coupling, often referred to as spin-orbit torques (SOTs). A detailed understanding of the SOTs requires improved theoretical models that exceed the present phenomenological framework used to model current-induced magnetization dynamics. In this talk, I present a novel phenomenology of current-induced torques that is valid for any strength of intrinsic spin-orbit coupling [1]. In Pt|Co|AlOx, I demonstrate that the domain walls move in response to a novel relativistic dissipative torque that is dependent on the domain wall structure and that can be controlled via the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction. Unlike the non-relativistic spin-transfer torque, the new torque can, together with the spin-Hall effect in the Pt-layer, move domain walls by means of electric currents parallel to the walls.

[1] K. M. D. Hals and A. Brataas, Phys. Rev. B 88, 085423 (2013).