Identifying switching of antiferromagnets by spin-orbit torques
(2025) In Physical Review B 112(10).- Abstract
Antiferromagnets are promising candidates for ultrafast spintronic applications, leveraging current-induced spin-orbit torques. However, experimentally distinguishing between different switching mechanisms of the staggered magnetization (Néel vector) driven by current pulses remains a challenge. In an exemplary study of the collinear antiferromagnetic compound Mn2Au, we demonstrate that slower thermomagnetoelastic effects predominantly govern switching over a wide parameter range. In the regime of short current pulses in the nanosecond range, however, we observe fully Néel spin-orbit torque driven switching. We show that this ultrafast mechanism enables the complete directional alignment of the Néel vector by current pulses... (More)
Antiferromagnets are promising candidates for ultrafast spintronic applications, leveraging current-induced spin-orbit torques. However, experimentally distinguishing between different switching mechanisms of the staggered magnetization (Néel vector) driven by current pulses remains a challenge. In an exemplary study of the collinear antiferromagnetic compound Mn2Au, we demonstrate that slower thermomagnetoelastic effects predominantly govern switching over a wide parameter range. In the regime of short current pulses in the nanosecond range, however, we observe fully Néel spin-orbit torque driven switching. We show that this ultrafast mechanism enables the complete directional alignment of the Néel vector by current pulses in device structures.
(Less)
- author
- organization
- publishing date
- 2025-09
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- in
- Physical Review B
- volume
- 112
- issue
- 10
- article number
- 104408
- publisher
- American Physical Society
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:105021855384
- ISSN
- 2469-9950
- DOI
- 10.1103/tjhp-rzcb
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- ca41a86e-586a-4a8e-b6e4-984f244e112d
- date added to LUP
- 2026-02-03 13:59:57
- date last changed
- 2026-02-03 13:59:57
@article{ca41a86e-586a-4a8e-b6e4-984f244e112d,
abstract = {{<p>Antiferromagnets are promising candidates for ultrafast spintronic applications, leveraging current-induced spin-orbit torques. However, experimentally distinguishing between different switching mechanisms of the staggered magnetization (Néel vector) driven by current pulses remains a challenge. In an exemplary study of the collinear antiferromagnetic compound Mn<sub>2</sub>Au, we demonstrate that slower thermomagnetoelastic effects predominantly govern switching over a wide parameter range. In the regime of short current pulses in the nanosecond range, however, we observe fully Néel spin-orbit torque driven switching. We show that this ultrafast mechanism enables the complete directional alignment of the Néel vector by current pulses in device structures.</p>}},
author = {{Jourdan, Martin and Bläßer, Jonathan and Gámez, Guzmán Orero and Reimers, Sonka and Odenbreit, Lukas and Fischer, Miriam and Niu, Yuran R. and Golias, Evangelos and Maccherozzi, Francesco and Kleibert, Armin and Stoll, Hermann and Kläui, Mathias}},
issn = {{2469-9950}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{10}},
publisher = {{American Physical Society}},
series = {{Physical Review B}},
title = {{Identifying switching of antiferromagnets by spin-orbit torques}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/tjhp-rzcb}},
doi = {{10.1103/tjhp-rzcb}},
volume = {{112}},
year = {{2025}},
}
