SWITCHING OF PERPENDICULARLY MAGNETIZED NANOMAGNETS WITH SPIN-ORBIT TORQUES IN THE ABSENCE OF EXTERNAL MAGNETIC FIELDS

摘要

A base element for switching a magnetization state of a nanomagnet includes a heavy-metal nanostrip having a surface. The heavy-metal nanostrip includes at least a first layer including a heavy metal and a second layer which includes a different heavy-metal. A ferromagnetic nanomagnet is disposed adjacent to the surface. The ferromagnetic nanomagnet includes a shape having a long axis and a short axis, the ferromagnetic nanomagnet having both a perpendicular-to-the-plane anisotropy H_kz and an in-plane anisotropy H_kx and the ferromagnetic nanomagnet having a first magnetization equilibrium state and a second magnetization equilibrium state. The first magnetization equilibrium state or the second magnetization equilibrium state is settable by a flow of electrical charge through the heavy-metal nanostrip. A direction of the flow of electrical charge through the heavy-metal nanostrip includes an angle ξ with respect to the short axis of the nanomagnet.