Spin-Transfer Torques Generated by the Anomalous Hall Effect and Anisotropic Magnetoresistance

Spin-orbit coupling is a well-studied means to change the orientation of a spin, and thus flip a logic bit in a spintronic device. The authors offer an advance by showing how the anomalous Hall effect and the anisotropic magnetoresistance, both discovered in the 19th century, can be used like the spin Hall effect to generate spin-orbit torques. This approach provides greater control over the angular dependence of torque than existing methods, and can switch perpendicularly magnetized samples, or move domain walls efficiently.