Spin Transfer Torques in MnSi at Ultralow Current Densities

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 330; no. 6011; pp. 1648 - 1651
• Main Authors: Jonietz, F, Mühlbauer, S, Pfleiderer, C, Neubauer, A, Münzer, W, Bauer, A, Adams, T, Georgii, R, Böni, P, Duine, R.A, Everschor, K, Garst, M, Rosch, A
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 17.12.2010; The American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Crystal lattices; Current density; Electric current; Electric currents; Electrical phases; Electronic transport in condensed matter; Electrons; Exact sciences and technology; Fluid flow; Heat; Knots; Lattices; Magnetic fields; Magnetization; Magnus force; Nanostructure; Physics; Solid state physics; Spin polarized transport; Superconductivity; Superconductors; Temperature gradients; Torque; Transistors; Vector currents; Vortices; Magnetization; Manganese silicide; Magnetic-phase diagrams; Spin manipulation; Neutron diffusion; Field orientation; Vortices; Magnetic structure; Magnetic materials; Spin transfer; Skyrmions; Magnus effect; Spintronics; Landau Lifshitz equation
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1195709

Spin manipulation using electric currents is one of the most promising directions in the field of spintronics. We used neutron scattering to observe the influence of an electric current on the magnetic structure in a bulk material. In the skyrmion lattice of manganese silicon, where the spins form a lattice of magnetic vortices similar to the vortex lattice in type II superconductors, we observe the rotation of the diffraction pattern in response to currents that are over five orders of magnitude smaller than those typically applied in experimental studies on current-driven magnetization dynamics in nanostructures. We attribute our observations to an extremely efficient coupling of inhomogeneous spin currents to topologically stable knots in spin structures.