Spin-Orbit Technologies: From Magnetic Memory to Terahertz Generation

Spintronic devices utilize an electric current to alter the state of a magnetic material and thus find great application in magnetic memory. Over the last decade, spintronic research has focused largely on techniques based on spin-orbit coupling, such as spin-orbit torques (SOTs), to alter the magnetic state. The phenomenon of spin-orbit coupling in magnetic heterostructures was also recently used to generate terahertz emission and thus bridge the gap between spintronics and optoelectronics research.

I will introduce the basic concepts of SOTs, such as their physical origin, the effect of SOTs on a magnetic material, and how to quantitatively measure this effect [1], [2]. Next, I will discuss the latest trends in SOT research, such as the exploration of novel material systems like topological insulators and two-dimensional materials to improve operation efficiency [3]. Following this, some of the technical challenges in SOT-based magnetic memory will be highlighted. Moving forward, I will introduce the process of terahertz generation in magnetic heterostructures [4], where the spin-orbit coupling phenomenon plays a dominant role. I will discuss the details of how this terahertz emission process can be extended to novel material systems such as ferrimagnets [5] and two-dimensional materials. The final section will focus on how the terahertz generation process can be used to measure SOTs in magnetic heterostructures, thus highlighting the interrelation between terahertz generation and the SOTs, which are linked by the underlying spin-orbit coupling. [1] X. Qiu, Z. Shi, W. Fan, S. Zhou, and H. Yang, “Characterization and manipulation of spin orbit torque in magnetic heterostructures,” Adv. Mater., vol. 30, 1705699, Apr. 2018.
[2] Y. Wang, R. Ramaswamy, and H. Yang, “FMR-related phenomena in spintronic devices” J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys., vol. 51, 273002, Jun. 2018.
[3] R. Ramaswamy, J. M. Lee, K. Cai, and H. Yang, “Recent advances in spin-orbit torques: Moving towards device applications” Appl. Phys. Rev., vol. 5, 031107, Sep. 2018.
[4] Y. Wu, M. Elyasi, X. Qiu, M. Chen, Y. Liu, L. Ke, and H. Yang, “High-performance THz emitters based on ferromagnetic/nonmagnetic heterostructures” Adv. Mater., vol. 29, 1603031, Jan. 2017.
[5] M. Chen, R. Mishra, Y. Wu, K. Lee, and H. Yang, “Terahertz emission from compensated magnetic heterostructures,” Adv. Opt. Mater., vol. 6, 1800430, Sep. 2018.