Interfacial and bulk spin Hall contributions to fieldlike spin-orbit torque generated by iridium
Abstract
We present measurements of spin-orbit torques generated by Ir as a function of film thickness in sputtered Ir/CoFeB and Ir/Co samples. We find that Ir provides a dampinglike component of spin-orbit torque with a maximum spin-torque conductivity σDLeff=(1.4±0.1)×105-2eω-1m-1 and a maximum spin-torque efficiency of ζDL=0.042±0.005, which is sufficient to drive switching in a 0.8 nm film of CoFeB with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. We also observe a surprisingly large fieldlike spin-orbit torque (FLT). Measurements as a function of Ir thickness indicate a substantial contribution to the FLT from an interface mechanism, so that in the ultrathin limit there is a nonzero FLT with a maximum torque conductivity σFLeff=-(5.0±0.5)×104-2eω-1m-1. When the Ir film thickness becomes comparable to or greater than its spin diffusion length, 1.6±0.3nm, there is also a smaller bulk contribution to the fieldlike torque. © 2021 American Physical Society.