Spin Seebeck imaging of spin-torque switching in antiferromagnetic Pt/NiO/Pt heterostructures

ORAL

Abstract

We demonstrate spin Seebeck microscopy as a sensitive table-top method for imaging in-plane antiferromagnetic order in thin films. In Pt/NiO(111)/Pt samples, we resolve antiferromagnetic spin domains within crystalline twin domains and image the effects of DC current-induced spin-orbit torque switching. We find a linear correlation between spin-torque-induced changes in the integrated spin Seebeck signal and the spin Hall magnetoresistance, confirming that we image the Néel order. The measurements show that changes driven by spin-orbit torque can occur both by antiferromagnetic domain wall motion and domain flopping, and only a small fraction of the NiO sample is altered.

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Presenters

  • Isaiah Gray

    Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University

Authors

  • Isaiah Gray

    Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University

  • Takahiro Moriyama

    Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University

  • Nikhil Sivadas

    Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Cornell University

  • Ryan Need

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, Materials Department, University of California, Santa Barbara, NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute for Standards and Technology

  • Brian Kirby

    National Institute of Standards and Technology, NIST Center for Neutron Research, National Institute for Standards and Technology, NIST Center for Neutron Research

  • David Low

    Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, Cornell University

  • Gregory Stiehl

    Cornell University, Department of Physics, Cornell University

  • John Heron

    Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Department of Materials Science and Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, University of Michigan

  • Daniel Ralph

    Cornell University, Department of Physics, Cornell University

  • Katja Nowack

    Laboratory of Atomic and Solid State Physics, Cornell University, Department of Physics, Cornell University, Cornell University

  • Teruo Ono

    Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University

  • Gregory Fuchs

    Cornell University, Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University, School of Applied and Engineering Physics, Cornell University