Spin-orbit torque-driven current-induced domain wall motion in Gd-Fe magnetic wires

Abstract

We fabricated Gd-Fe/Ta/sub. and W/Gd-Fe/Ta/sub. perpendicular magnetized magnetic wires and investigated current-induced domain wall motion (CIDWM) in them. The propagation field of the Gd-Fe wires is low (∼3 mT), and the wires were found to have a low threshold current density (∼3.1 ×1010 A m-2) of CIDWM. The directions of the CIDWM in Gd-Fe/Ta and W/Gd-Fe/Ta wires are opposite to each other, indicating that the CIDWM in both wires is driven by spin-orbit torque because the spin Hall torque generated by the Ta underlayer and W cap layer oppose each other.