Oxide spin-orbitronics: New routes towards low-power electrical control of magnetization in oxide heterostructures

• Published in: Japanese Journal of Applied Physics Vol. 57; no. 9; pp. 902 - 908
• Main Authors: Vaz, Diogo Castro, Barthélémy, Agnès, Bibes, Manuel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Tokyo The Japan Society of Applied Physics 01.09.2018; Japanese Journal of Applied Physics; Japan Society of Applied Physics
• Subjects: Bismuth compounds; Condensed Matter; Conversion; Ferromagnetism; Heterostructures; Magnetic anisotropy; Magnetism; Magnetization; Magnetoresistance; Magnetoresistivity; Multiferroic materials; Perovskites; Physics; Piezoelectricity; Spintronics; Strontium titanates; Surveying; Transition metal oxides; Transition metals; Tunnel magnetoresistance
• ISSN: 0021-4922; 1347-4065
• DOI: 10.7567/JJAP.57.0902A4

The transition metal oxide family harbors various types of materials of interest for spintronics: half-metallic manganites are highly efficient spin injectors and detectors, yielding record values of tunnel magnetoresistance; multiferroic materials, and in particular BiFeO3, allow the electrical control of magnetization and spin excitations at room temperature; combined with ferromagnets, piezoelectric perovskites enable a controlled tuning of magnetic anisotropy, domain dynamics and even magnetic order. In this review, we argue that a new opportunity is emerging for oxides in spintronics with the rise of spin-orbit-driven phenomena such as the direct and inverse spin Hall and Rashba-Edelstein effects. After surveying the few results reported on inverse spin Hall measurements in oxide materials, we describe in depth the physics of SrTiO3-based interfaces and their usage for both spin-to-charge and charge-to-spin conversion. Finally, we give perspectives for a more thorough exploration of spin Hall effects in oxides and enhanced conversion ratios in both three- and two-dimensional structures.