Deterministic Switching of Perpendicular Ferromagnets by Higher harmonics of Spin-orbit Torque in Noncentrosymmetric Weyl Semimetals
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arXiv
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| Format: | Preprint |
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2025
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| _version_ | 1866914449952079872 |
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| author | Fokkens, Naomi Xue, Fei |
| author_facet | Fokkens, Naomi Xue, Fei |
| contents | Field-free deterministic switching of perpendicular ferromagnets is a central challenge for spintronics applications, typically requiring explicit symmetry breaking. Here we show that deterministic switching can instead be achieved through higher angular harmonics of spin-orbit torques, even in systems that preserve in-plane mirror symmetries. Using a vector spherical harmonics expansion, we demonstrate that these higher-harmonic torque components naturally give rise to additional out-of-equator fixed points, enabling reliable magnetization reversal when their magnitude is comparable to conventional lowest-order torques. We illustrate this mechanism with first-principles calculations on the noncentrosymmetric Weyl ferromagnet PrAlGe, where the combination of Weyl-node band topology and strong spin-orbit coupling produces sizable higher-harmonic torque components. Because the Fermi surface is small, the conventional lowest-order torques are relatively weak, allowing the higher-order harmonics to compete on equal footing and strongly reshape the magnetization dynamics. The resulting spin dynamics confirm deterministic switching without additional symmetry breaking. Our results establish higher-harmonic spin-orbit torque as a key ingredient for understanding and controlling magnetization dynamics in topological and spintronic materials. |
| format | Preprint |
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arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2511_12324 |
| institution | arXiv |
| publishDate | 2025 |
| record_format | arxiv |
| spellingShingle | Deterministic Switching of Perpendicular Ferromagnets by Higher harmonics of Spin-orbit Torque in Noncentrosymmetric Weyl Semimetals Fokkens, Naomi Xue, Fei Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Materials Science Field-free deterministic switching of perpendicular ferromagnets is a central challenge for spintronics applications, typically requiring explicit symmetry breaking. Here we show that deterministic switching can instead be achieved through higher angular harmonics of spin-orbit torques, even in systems that preserve in-plane mirror symmetries. Using a vector spherical harmonics expansion, we demonstrate that these higher-harmonic torque components naturally give rise to additional out-of-equator fixed points, enabling reliable magnetization reversal when their magnitude is comparable to conventional lowest-order torques. We illustrate this mechanism with first-principles calculations on the noncentrosymmetric Weyl ferromagnet PrAlGe, where the combination of Weyl-node band topology and strong spin-orbit coupling produces sizable higher-harmonic torque components. Because the Fermi surface is small, the conventional lowest-order torques are relatively weak, allowing the higher-order harmonics to compete on equal footing and strongly reshape the magnetization dynamics. The resulting spin dynamics confirm deterministic switching without additional symmetry breaking. Our results establish higher-harmonic spin-orbit torque as a key ingredient for understanding and controlling magnetization dynamics in topological and spintronic materials. |
| title | Deterministic Switching of Perpendicular Ferromagnets by Higher harmonics of Spin-orbit Torque in Noncentrosymmetric Weyl Semimetals |
| topic | Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics Materials Science |
| url | https://arxiv.org/abs/2511.12324 |