title: Switching of perpendicular magnetization by spin-orbit torques in the absence of external magnetic fields.
abstract: Magnetization switching by current-induced spin-orbit torques is of great interest due to its potential applications in ultralow-power memory and logic devices. The switching of ferromagnets with perpendicular magnetization is of particular technological relevance. However, in such materials, the presence of an in-plane external magnetic field is typically required to assist spin-orbit torque-driven switching and this is an obstacle for practical applications. Here, we report the switching of out-of-plane magnetized Ta/Co(20)Fe(60)B(20)/TaO(x) structures by spin-orbit torques driven by in-plane currents, without the need for any external magnetic fields. This is achieved by introducing a lateral structural asymmetry into our devices, which gives rise to a new field-like spin-orbit torque when in-plane current flows in these structures. The direction of the current-induced effective field corresponding to this field-like spin-orbit torque is out-of-plane, facilitating the switching of perpendicular magnets.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA [2].
authors.forename: Guoqiang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA [2].
authors.forename: Pramey
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Upadhyaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Yabin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fan
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Juan G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Alzate
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Wanjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Kin L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wong
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: So
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takei
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Scott A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bender
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Li-Te
authors.initials: LT
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.affiliation: Center for Electron Microscopy and State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
authors.forename: Ying
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Murong
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lang
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Jianshi
authors.identifier: 0000000183690067
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Center for Electron Microscopy and State Key Laboratory of Silicon Materials, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, 310027, China.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Yaroslav
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tserkovnyak
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Pedram Khalili
authors.initials: PK
authors.lastname: Amiri
authors.affiliation: Department of Electrical Engineering, University of California, Los Angeles, California 90095, USA.
authors.forename: Kang L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Wang