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arXiv · 2606.12122

All-electric picosecond field-free spin-orbit torque switching in magnetic trilayers

Xinhou Chen·Shishun Zhao·Yuchen Pu·Qu Yang·Hyunsoo Yang
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Abstract

Spin-orbit torque (SOT) enables the electrical manipulation of the magnetization with high speed and low energy consumption for magnetic random-access memory (MRAM) applications. Previous studies of short-pulse SOT switching have mainly focused on the nanosecond regime, whereas reports employing picosecond pulses remain scarce and have largely relied on field-assisted switching using bulky, high-power laser systems, limiting prospects for chip-level integration. Here, we introduce an all-electrical on-chip nanoplasma pulse generator capable of producing pulses as short as 6.4 ps, enabling ultrafast picosecond field-free SOT switching in magnetic trilayers. We show that reducing the pulse width lowers the writing energy by 2-3 orders of magnitude, with ultrafast Joule heating assistance playing an essential role in the enhanced efficiency of the picosecond regime. Our demonstration of ultrafast, all-electrical, and field-free SOT switching establishes the nanoplasma pulse generator as an on-chip platform for ultrafast spintronic studies, with promise for high-speed, energy-efficient, and scalable SOT-MRAM technologies.

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Xinhou Chen, Shishun Zhao, Yuchen Pu, Qu Yang, Hyunsoo Yang. 2026-06-10. All-electric picosecond field-free spin-orbit torque switching in magnetic trilayers. https://arxiv.org/abs/2606.12122

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