Coherent Subnanosecond Switching of Perpendicular Magnetization by the Fieldlike Spin-Orbit Torque without an External Magnetic Field

The recently discovered spin-orbit torque could be used to flip bits in spintronic devices. The authors investigate its less-studied component, the fieldlike torque, and find that with the help of this piece, there is no need for an external magnetic field to achieve the deterministic reversal of magnetization. In principle this solves one of the critical issues in spintronics, and is promising for applications in terms of speed and energy efficiency.