1. Reversible electric-field control of magnetization at oxide interfaces
- Author
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Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Comunidad de Madrid, European Research Council, Department of Energy (US), Cuellar, Fabián A., Liu, Y. H., Salafranca, J., Nemes, N. M., Iborra, E., Sanchez-Santolino, Gabriel, Varela, M., García-Hernández, Mar, Freeland, J. W., Zhernenkov, M., Fitzsimmons, M. R., Okamoto, S., Pennycook, Stephen J., Bibes, M., Barthélémy, A., Te Velthuis, S. G. E., Sefrioui, Z., Leon, C., Santamaría, Jacobo, Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad (España), Comunidad de Madrid, European Research Council, Department of Energy (US), Cuellar, Fabián A., Liu, Y. H., Salafranca, J., Nemes, N. M., Iborra, E., Sanchez-Santolino, Gabriel, Varela, M., García-Hernández, Mar, Freeland, J. W., Zhernenkov, M., Fitzsimmons, M. R., Okamoto, S., Pennycook, Stephen J., Bibes, M., Barthélémy, A., Te Velthuis, S. G. E., Sefrioui, Z., Leon, C., and Santamaría, Jacobo
- Abstract
Electric-field control of magnetism has remained a major challenge which would greatly impact data storage technology. Although progress in this direction has been recently achieved, reversible magnetization switching by an electric field requires the assistance of a bias magnetic field. Here we take advantage of the novel electronic phenomena emerging at interfaces between correlated oxides and demonstrate reversible, voltage' driven magnetization switching without magnetic field. Sandwiching a non-superconducting cuprate between two manganese oxide layers, we find a novel form of magnetoelectric coupling arising from the orbital reconstruction at the interface between interfacial Mn spins and localized states in the CuO 2 planes. This results in a ferromagnetic coupling between the manganite layers that can be controlled by a voltage. Consequently, magnetic tunnel junctions can be electrically toggled between two magnetization states, and the corresponding spin' dependent resistance states, in the absence of a magnetic field.
- Published
- 2014