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Emergent phenomena induced by spin–orbit coupling at surfaces and interfaces

Nature volume 539, pages 509–517 (2016)Cite this article

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Abstract

Spin–orbit coupling (SOC) describes the relativistic interaction between the spin and momentum degrees of freedom of electrons, and is central to the rich phenomena observed in condensed matter systems. In recent years, new phases of matter have emerged from the interplay between SOC and low dimensionality, such as chiral spin textures and spin-polarized surface and interface states. These low-dimensional SOC-based realizations are typically robust and can be exploited at room temperature. Here we discuss SOC as a means of producing such fundamentally new physical phenomena in thin films and heterostructures. We put into context the technological promise of these material classes for developing spin-based device applications at room temperature.

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Figure 1: Emergent phenomena from spin–orbit coupling (SOC) at surfaces and interfaces.
Figure 2: Band structure and spin–charge conversion in spin-polarized 2D states.
Figure 3: Spin–charge conversion experiments.
Figure 4: Interfacial DMI and chiral spin textures.
Figure 5: Manipulation of magnetic skyrmions.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to A.K.C. Tan and S. M. Rezende for their help preparing illustrations. We acknowledge support from the Singapore Ministry of Education (MOE), an Academic Research Fund Tier 2 (Reference No. MOE2014-T2-1-050), the National Research Foundation (NRF) of Singapore, a NRF Investigatorship (Reference No. NRF-NRFI2015-04) and the A*STAR Pharos Fund (1527400026), Singapore; and the Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique (CNRS), France, for funding this work.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Physics and Applied Physics, School of Physical and Mathematical Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 637371, Singapore

    Anjan Soumyanarayanan & Christos Panagopoulos

  2. Data Storage Institute, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 2 Fusionopolis Way #08-01, 138634, Singapore

    Anjan Soumyanarayanan

  3. Unité Mixte de Physique, CNRS, Thales, Université Paris-Sud, Université Paris-Saclay, 91767, Palaiseau, France

    Nicolas Reyren & Albert Fert

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  1. Anjan Soumyanarayanan
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Soumyanarayanan, A., Reyren, N., Fert, A. et al. Emergent phenomena induced by spin–orbit coupling at surfaces and interfaces. Nature 539, 509–517 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature19820

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