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  4. Crystal Symmetry and Spin-Orbit Torques

Crystal Symmetry and Spin-Orbit Torques

File(s)
Stiehl_cornellgrad_0058F_11065.pdf (62.3 MB)
Permanent Link(s)
https://doi.org/10.7298/X4474833
https://hdl.handle.net/1813/59800
Collections
Cornell Theses and Dissertations
Author
Stiehl, Gregory Mark
Abstract

Recent discoveries regarding current-induced spin-orbit torques produced by heavy-metal/ferromagnet and topological insulator/ferromagnet bilayers provide the potential for dramatically improved efficiency in the manipulation of magnetic devices. However, spin-orbit torques have an important limitation – in the vast majority of samples, the current-generated spin direction is required by symmetry to lie in the sample plane and perpendicular to an in-plane applied current, i.e., a Rashba-like symmetry. This means, for example, that spinorbit torques can drive the most current-efficient type of magnetic reversal (antidamping switching) only for magnetic devices with in-plane anisotropy, not the devices with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy that are needed for highdensity applications. In this dissertation, I outline a promising approach for reducing those symmetry requirements: using a single crystalline spin-source material with low structural symmetry to alter the symmetry constraints of the generated spin-orbit torques.

Date Issued
2018-08-30
Keywords
Symmetry
•
Condensed matter physics
•
Physics
•
Materials Science
•
Spin-orbit torque
•
Spin Hall Effect
•
Spintronics
•
2D materials
•
Transition metal dichalcogenides
Committee Chair
Ralph, Daniel C.
Committee Member
Buhrman, Robert A.
Fennie, Craig James, Jr
Degree Discipline
Physics
Degree Name
Ph. D., Physics
Degree Level
Doctor of Philosophy
Type
dissertation or thesis

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