Modulation of spin Hall magnetoresistance in α-Fe2O3/Pt by uniaxial tensile strain

Abstract

Abstract We demonstrate the modulation of spin Hall magnetoresistance (SMR) by uniaxial tensile strain at RT in heterostructures of antiferromagnetic insulating (0001)-oriented α-Fe2O3 (hematite) and Pt. The SMR signals consistent with previous reports are observed in α-Fe2O3/Pt without strain. Under tensile strains, we found that the magnetoresistance amplitude changes almost linearly with the strain amplitude. The observed magnetoresistance change is attributed to the strain modulation of SMR owing to the change in domain distribution via magnetoelastic couplings. The results provide a useful method for controlling the spin-dependent transport effect in antiferromagnetic-insulator/metal bilayers.