Robust spin injection via thermal magnon pumping in antiferromagnet/ferromagnet hybrid systems

Abstract

Robust spin injection and detection in antiferromagnetic thin films is a prerequisite for the exploration of antiferromagnetic spin dynamics and the development of nanoscale antiferromagnet-based spintronic applications. Previous studies have shown spin injection and detection in antiferromagnet/nonmagnetic metal bilayers; however, spin injection in these systems has been found effective at cryogenic temperatures only. Here, we experimentally demonstrate sizable interfacial spin transport in a hybrid antiferromagnet/ferromagnet system, consisting of Cr2O3 and permalloy, which remains robust up to the room temperature. We examine our experimental data within a spin diffusion model and find evidence for the important role of interfacial magnon pumping in the signal generation. The results bridge spin-orbitronic phenomena of ferromagnetic metals with antiferromagnetic spintronics and demonstrate an advancement toward antiferromagnetic spin-torque devices.