Regensburg 2016 – scientific programme

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SYES: Symposium Frontiers of Electronic Structure Theory: Focus on Topology and Transport

SYES 1: Frontiers of Electronic Structure Theory: Focus on Topology and Transport

SYES 1.2: Invited Talk

Friday, March 11, 2016, 10:00–10:30, H1

Berry phase linked spin-orbit torques in Ferromagnetic and Antiferromagnetic systems — •Jairo Sinova — Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, Staudingerweg 7, 55128 Mainz Germany

As current-driven torques are becoming more relevant in future MRAM technologies, in-plane current magnetization dynamics driven by the so called Rashba spin-orbit torques or through a combination of spin-Hall effect and spin-transfer torque has become more and more important. Understanding these torques is paramount to maximize their use. In recent experiments we have shown that in addition to the intrinsic SHE and STT effect there exists an intrinsic spin-orbit torque originating from the Berry phase of the spin-orbit coupled Bloch electrons analogous to the intrinsic spin Hall effect. This type of torques can be observed through SO-FMR driven experiments. We show this new type of toques in theory and experiments in GaMnAs and show that it can be of similar strength to the strong field-like torque. In addition, we extend these physics to a new type of order-parameter manipulation by currents by examining the combined effect of spin-orbit coupling and anti-ferromagnetic order. We show that in broken inversion symmetry anti-ferromagnets a current will induced a non-equilibrium Néel-order field that will act directly on the Néel order parameter, hence making the direct manipulation of anti-ferromagnets without auxiliary exchange biased coupling to other ferromagnets a new and exciting possibility. One of these type of Néel torques has been recently experimentally confirmed.