Successful PhD defense of Bharat Grover

Congratulations to Bharat Grover!

Title: “Crystallographic Dependence of Spin Orbit Torques in Epitaxial Films"

Abstract

Spintronics is an emerging field in nanoelectronics, utilizing the spin of electrons for data storage and manipulation. In this thesis, the characterization of spin-orbit torques (SOTs) generated by spin currents from the spin Hall effect (SHE) in heavy metals is presented, with a focus on Pt and the non-collinear antiferromagnet Mn₃Pt. In Pt, three crystallographic orientations - (111), (110), and (001) - were studied using optically detected ferromagnetic resonance (OFMR) and spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance (ST-FMR), with comparisons made to DC bias technique. In Mn₃Pt, the role of exchange bias was examined along (111) and (001) by inserting Cu between Mn₃Pt and Permalloy (Py). Damping-like and field-like torques were observed, due to different spin polarization in Mn₃Pt. Finally, field-dependent switching of ferromagnets with perpendicular anisotropy through Mn₃Pt SOT was demonstrated.