Theoretical routes for current-free magnetization switching induced by joint effects of strain and Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction

作者：Mingmin Zhu, Yiting Li, Huimin Hu, Shuting Cui, Yang Qiu, Guoliang Yu, Hao-Miao Zhou · 发表于：Applied Physics Letters · 年份：2022 · DOI：10.1063/5.0097526 · 被引用次数：8 · 研究领域：Magnetic properties of thin films、Magnetic Properties and Applications、Magneto-Optical Properties and Applications

Voltage-induced strain is regarded as an energy-efficient choice of tuning spin-dynamics. However, studies on the strain-mediated switching of magnetization in a perpendicular-magnetic-anisotropy layer are few because of the uncertainties that arise from the magnetization oscillation at high strain. In this work, we demonstrate theoretically how to deterministically switch the perpendicular magnetization in an ultrathin magnetic nanodisk by combining biaxial in-plane strain with the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI). The magnetization-switching process is carefully investigated under different strains and DMI strengths. The underlying switching mechanism is attributed to the remnant magnetization component, which deviates away from the film plane during the strain-pulse-impulsion period and which is also highly dependent on the DMI. Based on simulation results, a theoretical route for obtaining deterministic switching regarding strain and DMI is established. In this route, the minimum duration of the strain pulse can be shortened to a critical time of 2.5 ns as the strain increases to 7000 ppm at a DMI value of 0.6 mJ/m2. Moreover, nonvolatile and reversible switching between the spin-up and spin-down states of perpendicular magnetization is realized using pulses of biaxial in-plane isotropic strain. This switching occurs via an intermediate skyrmion and shows potential in overcoming the edge-roughness-related pinning that occurs in spin–orbit-torque current-induced swi...