Effect of an ultrathin Fe interlayer on the growth of MnGa and spin-orbit-torque induced magnetization switching

Abstract

Abstract We investigated the effect of an ultrathin Fe interlayer on the growth of MnGa and spin–orbit torque (SOT) induced magnetization switching. MnGa was epitaxially grown on Fe at room temperature without thermal annealing. The MnGa/Fe bilayer was perpendicularly magnetized, and clear magnetization switching of the MnGa/Fe bilayer using the spin current, mainly from the adjacent Ta, was observed. The insertion of the Fe layer reduced the switching current density and increased a SOT-originated effective magnetic field. These results indicate that the MnGa/Fe bilayer is a promising spin source, capable of both perpendicular spin injection into GaAs and electrical manipulation of its spin direction.