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  • May
    20

    ECE Distinguished Seminar - "Symmetry Breaking by Materials Engineering for Spin-Orbit-Torque Technology" with Jingsheng Chen

    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

    1:45 PM L440, Technological Institute

    EVENT DETAILS

    Electric manipulation of magnetization is essential for the integration of magnetic functionalities in integrated circuits. Spin-orbit torque (SOT), originating from the coupling of electron spin and orbital motion through spin-orbital interaction, can effectively manipulate magnetization. Symmetry breaking plays an important role in spintronics based on SOT. SOT requires inversion asymmetry in order to have a net effect on magnetic materials, which is commonly realized by spatial asymmetry: a thin magnetic layer sandwiched between two dissimilar layers. This kind of structure restricts the SOT by mirror and rotational symmetries to have a particular form: an “antidamping-like” component oriented in the film plane even upon reversal of the magnetization direction. Consequently, magnetization perpendicular to the film plane cannot be deterministically switched with pure electric current. To achieve all-electric switching of perpendicular magnetization, it is necessary to break the mirror and rotational symmetries of the sandwiched structure.
    In this lecture, I will begin with a basic introduction of the physical origin of SOT, followed by the related symmetry analysis of a magnetic thin film in a sandwiched structure for the generation of a net SOT effect. Then, I will introduce a new method—a composition gradient along the thin-film normal for breaking the inversion symmetry—to generate bulk-like SOT [1], which enables a thicker magnetic layer with high magnetic anisotropy. An overview of the methods commonly used to break mirror and rotational symmetries to realize all-electric switching of perpendicular magnetization will follow. I will give a detailed discussion on our methods for the realization of all-electric switching of perpendicular magnetization: the use of a spin source layer with low magnetic symmetry and low crystal symmetry, which generates an out-of-plane SOT [2]–[4]; interfacial 3m1 symmetry, which induces a new “3m” spin torque [5]; precise control of the tilting of magnetocrystalline anisotropy easy axis [6]; and a spin-current gradient along the current direction [7].

    [1] L. Liu et al., “Electrical switching of perpendicular magnetization in a single ferromagnetic layer,” Phys. Rev. B, vol. 101, 220402, June 2020.
    [2] J. Zhou et al., “Magnetic asymmetry induced anomalous spin-orbit torque in IrMn,” Phys. Rev. B, vol. 101, 184403, May 2020.
    [3] J. Zhou et al., “Large spin-orbit torque efficiency enhanced by magnetic structure of collinear antiferromagnet IrMn,” Sci. Adv., vol. 5, eaau6696, May 2019.
    [4] Q. Xie et al., “Field-free magnetization switching induced by the unconventional spin–orbit torque from WTe2,” APL Mater., vol. 9, 051114, May 2021.
    [5] L. Liu et al., “Symmetry-dependent field-free switching of perpendicular magnetization,” Nat. Nanotech., vol. 16, pp. 277-282, January 2021.
    [6] L. Liu et al., “Current-induced magnetization switching in all-oxide heterostructures,” Nat. Nanotech., vol. 14, 939-944, September 2019.
    [7] S. Chen et al., “Free field electric switching of perpendicularly magnetized thin film by spin current gradient,” ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces, vol. 11, pp. 30446-30452, July 2019.

    Dr. Jingsheng Chen (Senior Member, IEEE) received the B.S. and Ph.D. degrees from Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China, in 1994 and 1999, respectively. From 1999 to 2001, he was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. From 2001 to 2007, he was a Research Scientist at the Data Storage Institute, Singapore. He is currently an Associate Professor with the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore. Since 2008, he has been sponsored by Seagate Technology, Fremont, CA, USA, to develop high-anisotropy magnetic recording media for heat-assisted magnetic recording. He has authored or coauthored over 300 refereed journal articles, holds more than ten patents, and has made over 50 invited presentations at international conferences. His current research interests include magnetic materials and devices for spintronics application, high-anisotropy magnetic materials for hard disk drives, multiferroic materials, and emerging ferroelectric materials and devices. Dr. Chen has served as the Program Chair for the 2018 International Magnetics Conference.

    This is an in-person event only. A 15 minute reception will take place before the talk, light refreshments will be served.

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    TIME Friday, May 20, 2022 at 1:45 PM - 3:00 PM

    LOCATION L440, Technological Institute    map it

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    CONTACT Catherine Healey    catherine.healey@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering

  • May
    2

    Thought Leader Dialogue: AI and the Future of Work

    Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design (HCI+D)

    4:00 PM

    EVENT DETAILSmore info

    TIME Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 4:00 PM - 5:15 PM

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    CONTACT Madison Deyo    Madison.Deyo@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Center for Human-Computer Interaction + Design (HCI+D)

  • May
    8

    ECE Distinguished Seminar - Yue Lu

    Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)

    2:00 PM L440, Technological Institute

    EVENT DETAILS

    TIME Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM

    LOCATION L440, Technological Institute    map it

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    CONTACT Catherine Healey    catherine.healey@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE)

  • May
    8

    Extending Care: A Conversation about Conservation and Futurity

    Block Museum of Art

    6:00 PM Block Museum of Art, Mary and Leigh

    EVENT DETAILSmore info

    TIME Wednesday, May 8, 2024 at 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

    LOCATION Block Museum of Art, Mary and Leigh    map it

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    CONTACT Block Museum of Art    block-museum@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR Block Museum of Art

  • Jun
    10

    Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony

    McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

    9:00 AM Welsh-Ryan Arena

    EVENT DETAILSmore info

    TIME Monday, June 10, 2024 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

    LOCATION Welsh-Ryan Arena   

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    CONTACT Amy Pokrass    amy.pokrass@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  • Jun
    10

    Northwestern Engineering Undergraduate Convocation

    McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

    2:00 PM Welsh-Ryan Arena

    EVENT DETAILSmore info

    TIME Monday, June 10, 2024 at 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

    LOCATION Welsh-Ryan Arena   

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    CONTACT Amy Pokrass    amy.pokrass@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  • Aug
    14

    Undergraduate Quantum Summer School

    McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

    All Day Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center

    EVENT DETAILSmore info

    TIME Wednesday, August 14, 2024

    LOCATION Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center    map it

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    CONTACT Dongyang Li    lidongyang@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  • Aug
    15

    Undergraduate Quantum Summer School

    McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

    All Day Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center

    EVENT DETAILSmore info

    TIME Thursday, August 15, 2024

    LOCATION Ford Motor Company Engineering Design Center    map it

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    CONTACT Dongyang Li    lidongyang@northwestern.edu EMAIL

    CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science