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

A method of controlling a trajectory of a perpendicular magnetization switching of a ferromagnetic layer using spin-orbit torques in the absence of any external magnetic field comprising:

• injecting a charge current Je through a heavy-metal thin film disposed adjacent to a ferromagnetic layer to produce spin torques which drive a magnetization M out of an equilibrium state towards an in-plane of a nanomagnet;
• turning said charge current Je off after te seconds, causing a spin torque to reduce to substantially zero where M is close to an x-y plane and away from an ez axis by an angle of ϑ in a critical zone, where an effective field experienced by the magnetization of the ferromagnetic layer Heff is significantly dominated by and in-plane anisotropy Hkx, and where M passes a hard axis by precessing around said Heff;
• and
• passing the hard axis, where Heff is dominated by a perpendicular-to-the-plane anisotropy Hkz, and where M is pulled towards the new equilibrium state by precessing and damping around Heff, completing a magnetization switching.