National Science Review · 2022 · 90 citations · 36 references
Natural SciencesMaterials SciencePhysicsCondensed Matter PhysicsElectronic MaterialsSemiconductor DevicesAntiferromagnetic MaterialsAntiferromagnetismSpin DynamicsSpintronic MaterialsSpintronicsTopological MaterialsAntiferromagnetic SpintronicsCollinear AntiferromagnetismCurrent-induced Magnetization SwitchingNoncollinear AntiferromagnetismReadoutSpin-orbit TorquesTopological SpintronicsWeyl Semimetals
ABSTRACT Non-collinear antiferromagnetic Weyl semimetals, combining the advantages of a zero stray field and ultrafast spin dynamics, as well as a large anomalous Hall effect and the chiral anomaly of Weyl fermions, have attracted extensive interest. However, the all-electrical control of such systems at room temperature, a crucial step toward practical application, has not been reported. Here, using a small writing current density of around 5 × 106 A·cm–2, we realize the all-electrical current-induced deterministic switching of the non-collinear antiferromagnet Mn3Sn, with a strong readout signal at room temperature in the Si/SiO2/Mn3Sn/AlOx structure, and without external magnetic field or injected spin current. Our simulations reveal that the switching originates from the current-induced intrinsic non-collinear spin-orbit torques in Mn3Sn itself. Our findings pave the way for the development of topological antiferromagnetic spintronics.
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Electrical switching of an antiferromagnet
P. Wadley, B. Howells, Jakub Železný et al. · Science · 2016 · 1.5K citations · Full text