Switching of perpendicularly magnetized nanomagnets with spin-orbit torques in the absence of external magnetic fields

A base element for switching a magnetization state of a nanomagnet comprising:

• a heavy-metal nanostrip having a surface;
• a ferromagnetic nanomagnet disposed adjacent to said surface, said ferromagnetic nanomagnet comprising a shape having a long axis and a short axis, said ferromagnetic nanomagnet having both a perpendicular-to-the-plane anisotropy Hkz and an in-plane anisotropy Hkx and said ferromagnetic nanomagnet having a first magnetization equilibrium state and a second magnetization equilibrium state, said first magnetization equilibrium state or said second magnetization equilibrium state settable by a flow of electrical charge through said heavy-metal nanostrip;
• a Hf layer disposed between said heavy-metal nanostrip and said ferromagnetic nanomagnet;
• and
• wherein a direction of flow of said flow of electrical charge through said heavy-metal nanostrip comprises an angle ξ with respect to said short axis of said nanomagnet, said flow of electrical charge non-perpendicular to said short axis.

A base element of a sensor device for switching a magnetization state of a nanomagnet comprising:

• a heavy-metal strip having a surface;
• a ferromagnetic nanomagnet disposed adjacent to said surface, said ferromagnetic nanomagnet comprising a shape having a long axis and a short axis, said ferromagnetic nanomagnet having both a perpendicular-to-the-plane anisotropy Hkz and an in-plane anisotropy Hkx and said ferromagnetic nanomagnet having a first magnetization equilibrium state and a second magnetization equilibrium state, said first magnetization equilibrium state or said second magnetization equilibrium state settable in an absence of an external magnetic field by a flow of electrical charge through said heavy-metal strip;
• wherein a direction of flow of said flow of electrical charge through said heavy-metal strip comprises an angle ξ with respect to said short axis of said nanomagnet;
• and
• wherein said base element provides a sensing element of said sensor device, said flow of electrical charge non-perpendicular to said short axis.