We demonstrate a high-quality spin orbit torque nano-oscillator comprised of spin wave modes confined by the magnetic field by the strongly inhomogeneous dipole field of a nearby micromagnet. This approach enables variable spatial confinement and systematic tuning of magnon spectrum and spectral separations for studying the impact of multi-mode interactions on auto-oscillations. We find these dipole field-localized spin wave modes exhibit good characteristic properties as auto-oscillators--narrow linewidth and large amplitude--while persisting up to room temperature. We find that the linewidth of the lowest-lying localized mode is approximately proportional to temperature in good agreement with theoretical analysis of the impact of thermal fluctuations. This demonstration of a clean oscillator with tunable properties provides a powerful tool for understanding the fundamental limitations and linewidth contributions to improve future spin-Hall oscillators.
Spin-orbit torque nano-oscillators based on bilayers of ferromagnetic (FM) and nonmagnetic (NM) metals are ultra-compact current-controlled microwave signal sources. They serve as a convenient testbed for studies of spin-orbit torque physics and are attractive for practical applications such as microwave assisted magnetic recording, neuromorphic computing, and chip-to-chip wireless communications. However, a major drawback of these devices is low output microwave power arising from the relatively small anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) of the FM layer. Here we experimentally show that the output power of a spin-orbit torque nano-oscillator can be enhanced by nearly three orders of magnitude without compromising its structural simplicity. Addition of a FM reference layer to the oscillator allows us to employ current-in-plane giant magnetoresistance (CIP GMR) to boost the output power of the device. This enhancement of the output power is a result of both large magnitude of GMR compared to that of AMR and different angular dependences of GMR and AMR. Our results pave the way for practical applications of spin-orbit torque nano-oscillators.
We experimentally demonstrate generation of coherent propagating magnons in ultra-thin magnetic-insulator films by spin-orbit torque induced by dc electric current. We show that this challenging task can be accomplished by utilizing magnetic-insulator films with large perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. We demonstrate simple and flexible spin-orbit torque devices, which can be used as highly efficient nanoscale sources of coherent propagating magnons for insulator-based spintronic applications.
Spin transfer torque nano-oscillators are potential candidates for replacing the traditional inductor based voltage controlled oscillators in modern communication devices. Typical oscillator designs are based on trilayer magnetic tunnel junctions which are disadvantaged by low power outputs and poor conversion efficiencies. In this letter, we theoretically propose to use resonant spin filtering in pentalayer magnetic tunnel junctions as a possible route to alleviate these issues and present device designs geared toward a high microwave output power and an efficient conversion of the d.c. input power. We attribute these robust qualities to the resulting non-trivial spin current profiles and the ultra high tunnel magnetoresistance, both arising from resonant spin filtering. The device designs are based on the nonequilibrium Greens function spin transport formalism self-consistently coupled with the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert-Slonczewskis equation and the Poissons equation. We demonstrate that the proposed structures facilitate oscillator designs featuring a large enhancement in microwave power of around $775%$ and an efficiency enhancement of over $1300%$ in comparison with typical trilayer designs. We also rationalize the optimum operating regions via an analysis of the dynamic and static device resistances. This work sets stage for pentalyer spin transfer torque nano-oscillator device designs that extenuate most of the issues faced by the typical trilayer designs.
We study the generation of propagating spin waves in Ta/CoFeB waveguides by spin-orbit torque antennas and compare them to conventional inductive antennas. The spin-orbit torque was generated by a transverse microwave current across the magnetic waveguide. The detected spin wave signals for an in-plane magnetization across the waveguide (Damon-Eshbach configuration) exhibited the expected phase rotation and amplitude decay upon propagation when the current spreading was taken into account. Wavevectors up to about 6 rad/$mu$m could be excited by the spin-orbit torque antennas despite the current spreading, presumably due to the non-uniformity of the microwave current. The relative magnitude of generated anti-damping spin-Hall and Oersted fields was calculated within an analytic model and it was found that they contribute approximately equally to the total effective field generated by the spin-orbit torque antenna. Due to the ellipticity of the precession in the ultrathin waveguide and the different orientation of the anti-damping spin-Hall and Oersted fields, the torque was however still dominated by the Oersted field. The prospects for obtaining a pure spin-orbit torque response are discussed, as are the energy efficiency and the scaling properties of spin-orbit torque antennas.
We use micro-focus Brillouin light scattering spectroscopy to study the effects of spin-orbit torque on thermal spin waves in almost angular-momentum compensated ferrimagnetic CoGd alloy films. The spin-orbit torque is produced by the electric current flowing in the Pt layer adjacent to CoGd. Both the ferromagnetic and the exchange modes are detected in our measurements. The intensity and the linewidth of the ferromagnetic mode are modified by the spin-orbit torque. In contrast, the properties of the exchange mode are unaffected by the spin-orbit torque. We also find that the frequencies and the linewidths of both modes are significantly modified by Joule heating, due to the strong temperature dependence of the magnetic properties of CoGd in the vicinity of angular momentum compensation point. Our results provide insight into the mechanisms that can enable the implementation of sub-THz magnetic nano-oscillators based on ferrimagnetic materials, as well as related effects in antiferromagnets.