Spintronic Properties and Spin-Orbit-Torque Switching Characteristics of Pt/REIG Heterostructures

Ferrimagnetic insulator (FMI) thin films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) have recently attracted attention for spin-orbit torque (SOT) switching applications. We report the properties of epitaxial terbium iron garnet (TbIG) and europium iron garnet (EuIG) thin films with PMA.¹ EuIG can be grown with PMA on (100) and (111) GGG substrates, making it ideal for orientation-dependent studies. For instance, Pt/EuIG had similar (001) and (111) Im[G] in contrast to similar studies on the Pt/CFO system. The TbIG films had a low M_s at room temperature due to their magnetic compensation point of 330K, and AHE measurements of Pt/TbIG showed a sign change at the compensation point. In addition, the (111) Im[G] of Pt/TbIG was similar to the Pt/EuIG system. Finally, we report the SOT switching characteristics of Pt/TbIG going through its compensation point, as well as the orientation dependence of the SOT switching characteristics of the Pt/EuIG system.

1. Rosenberg, Ethan R., et al. "Magnetism and spin transport in rare-earth-rich epitaxial terbium and europium iron garnet films." Physical Review Materials 2.9 (2018): 094405.