Spin-orbit torque in two-dimensional antiferromagnetic topological insulators

Abstract
We investigate spin transport in two-dimensional ferromagnetic (FTI) and antiferromagnetic (AFTI) topological insulators. In the presence of an in-plane magnetization AFTI supports zero energy modes, which enables topologically protected edge conduction at low energy. We address the nature of current-driven spin torque in these structures and study the impact of spin-independent disorder. Interestingly, upon strong disorder the spin torque develops an antidamping component (i.e., even upon magnetization reversal) along the edges, which could enable current-driven manipulation of the antiferromagnetic order parameter. This antidamping torque decreases when increasing the system size and when the system enters the trivial insulator regime.

Citation
Ghosh S, Manchon A (2017) Spin-orbit torque in two-dimensional antiferromagnetic topological insulators. Physical Review B 95. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.95.035422.

Acknowledgements
This work was supported by the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) through the Office of Sponsored Research (OSR) [Grant No. OSR-2015- CRG4-2626].

Publisher
American Physical Society (APS)

Journal
Physical Review B

DOI
10.1103/PhysRevB.95.035422

arXiv
1609.01174

Additional Links
http://journals.aps.org/prb/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevB.95.035422

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