Low Current Densities Toggle Optical Polarization Switching in Pt/Yttrium Iron Garnet Magnetic Heterostructures Using Energy Resolution
Journal
Physica Status Solidi - Rapid Research Letters
Journal Volume
14
Journal Issue
9
Date Issued
2020
Author(s)
Chien W.-H.C., Huang J.-Y., Lin J.-X., Liao Y.-F., Su H.-W., Liang H.-L., Huang S.-Y., Yao Y.-D., Hsu H.-S.
Abstract
Spin current, which is converted from the charge current in heavy metals, is widely used to manipulate magnetization in heavy metal/magnetic insulator systems. However, there is scant research on how the spin-polarized density of states (DOS) is affected by the absorption of spin current. This study investigates the spin-current-induced magnetic variation of an yttrium iron garnet (YIG) ?lm driven by charge current in an overlayer of Pt that uses energy-resolved magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) spectra as an example. MCD intensity can be manipulated reversibly using an applied current at near d–d transitions. Furthermore, the MCD sign, which is associated with an elliptically polarized direction, is reversed by a relatively low current density (?108 A m?2) near YIG charge transfer transitions, even without the assistance of a magnetic field. The spin accumulation in Fe orbits and the corresponding change in spin-polarized DOS explain the observed phenomenon. This paves the way to low-dissipation spintronics and electrically controlled magneto-optical devices based on magnetic insulators. ? 2020 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim
Subjects
Charge transfer; Dichroism; Heavy metals; Iron; Spin polarization; Yttrium iron garnet; Charge transfer transitions; Energy resolutions; Low current density; Magnetic circular dichroisms; Magnetic heterostructures; Magnetic variation; Optical polarization switching; Spin-accumulations; Magnetism
Other Subjects
Charge transfer; Dichroism; Heavy metals; Iron; Spin polarization; Yttrium iron garnet; Charge transfer transitions; Energy resolutions; Low current density; Magnetic circular dichroisms; Magnetic heterostructures; Magnetic variation; Optical polarization switching; Spin-accumulations; Magnetism
Type
journal article