Current-induced torques in magnetic Weyl semimetal tunnel junctions

We study the current-induced torques in asymmetric magnetic tunnel junctions containing a conventional ferromagnet and a magnetic Weyl semimetal contact. The Weyl semimetal hosts chiral bulk states and topologically protected Fermi arc surface states which were found to govern the voltage behavior and efficiency of current-induced torques. We report how bulk chirality dictates the sign of the nonequilibrium torques acting on the ferromagnet and discuss the existence of large fieldlike torques acting on the magnetic Weyl semimetal which exceed the theoretical maximum of conventional magnetic tunnel junctions. The latter are derived from the Fermi arc spin texture and display a counterintuitive dependence on the separation of the Weyl nodes. Our results shed light on the new physics of multilayered spintronic devices composed of magnetic Weyl semimetals, which might open doors for new energy-efficient spintronic devices.

Automated summary

In this study, we investigate the current-induced torques in asymmetric magnetic tunnel junctions with a conventional ferromagnet and a magnetic Weyl semimetal contact. By analyzing the chirality of the Weyl semimetal and its effects on the torques acting on the ferromagnet, we reveal the presence of large fieldlike torques on the magnetic Weyl semimetal that exceed conventional limits. Our results shed light on the new physics of multilayered spintronic devices utilizing magnetic Weyl semimetals, potentially leading to more energy-efficient spintronic devices.