Electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic RuO2

Abstract Due to nonrelativistic altermagnetic spin splitting effect (ASSE), altermagnets can generate time-reversal-odd spin current and spin splitting torque (SST) with spin polarization parallel to the Néel vector. Hence the effective manipulation of SST would provide plenty of opportunities for d...

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Main Authors: Yichi Zhang, Hua Bai, Jiankun Dai, Lei Han, Chong Chen, Shixuan Liang, Yanzhang Cao, Yingying Zhang, Qian Wang, Wenxuan Zhu, Feng Pan, Cheng Song
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Nature Communications
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60891-2
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author Yichi Zhang
Hua Bai
Jiankun Dai
Lei Han
Chong Chen
Shixuan Liang
Yanzhang Cao
Yingying Zhang
Qian Wang
Wenxuan Zhu
Feng Pan
Cheng Song
author_facet Yichi Zhang
Hua Bai
Jiankun Dai
Lei Han
Chong Chen
Shixuan Liang
Yanzhang Cao
Yingying Zhang
Qian Wang
Wenxuan Zhu
Feng Pan
Cheng Song
author_sort Yichi Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Due to nonrelativistic altermagnetic spin splitting effect (ASSE), altermagnets can generate time-reversal-odd spin current and spin splitting torque (SST) with spin polarization parallel to the Néel vector. Hence the effective manipulation of SST would provide plenty of opportunities for designable spintronic devices. Here, we achieve electrical control of SST in altermagnetic RuO2, based on controllable Néel vector of RuO2 and Néel vector-dependent generation of SST. To demonstrate the current-induced switching of Néel vector via spin-orbit torque in RuO2 films, we use electrical transport measurements and X-ray magnetic linear dichroism (XMLD) measurements. The switching of Néel vector to the current direction and resultantly enhanced spin polarization parallel to the Néel vector brings about stronger ASSE-induced spin current. These findings not only enrich our understanding of the properties of altermagnets but also pave the way for high-speed memories and nano-oscillators with excellent controllability and efficiency.
format Article
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institution Kabale University
issn 2041-1723
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Nature Portfolio
record_format Article
series Nature Communications
spelling doaj-art-444734c05b454844a252ec9bb5eec32d2025-08-20T04:01:35ZengNature PortfolioNature Communications2041-17232025-07-011611810.1038/s41467-025-60891-2Electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic RuO2Yichi Zhang0Hua Bai1Jiankun Dai2Lei Han3Chong Chen4Shixuan Liang5Yanzhang Cao6Yingying Zhang7Qian Wang8Wenxuan Zhu9Feng Pan10Cheng Song11Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityKey Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua UniversityAbstract Due to nonrelativistic altermagnetic spin splitting effect (ASSE), altermagnets can generate time-reversal-odd spin current and spin splitting torque (SST) with spin polarization parallel to the Néel vector. Hence the effective manipulation of SST would provide plenty of opportunities for designable spintronic devices. Here, we achieve electrical control of SST in altermagnetic RuO2, based on controllable Néel vector of RuO2 and Néel vector-dependent generation of SST. To demonstrate the current-induced switching of Néel vector via spin-orbit torque in RuO2 films, we use electrical transport measurements and X-ray magnetic linear dichroism (XMLD) measurements. The switching of Néel vector to the current direction and resultantly enhanced spin polarization parallel to the Néel vector brings about stronger ASSE-induced spin current. These findings not only enrich our understanding of the properties of altermagnets but also pave the way for high-speed memories and nano-oscillators with excellent controllability and efficiency.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60891-2
spellingShingle Yichi Zhang
Hua Bai
Jiankun Dai
Lei Han
Chong Chen
Shixuan Liang
Yanzhang Cao
Yingying Zhang
Qian Wang
Wenxuan Zhu
Feng Pan
Cheng Song
Electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic RuO2
Nature Communications
title Electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic RuO2
title_full Electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic RuO2
title_fullStr Electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic RuO2
title_full_unstemmed Electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic RuO2
title_short Electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic RuO2
title_sort electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic ruo2
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-025-60891-2
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