Spin Orbit TOrque Magnetic sensing – STORM

In STORM, we want to investigate an original approach based the effect of different components of spin-orbit torques (SOT) whose amplitudes will controlled through optimization of materials and heterostructures. This approach shall allow for manipulation of magnetization through powerful interfaces effects via charge-spin conversion producing magnetic torques (SOT) with an in-plane current geometry (CIP). TMR device is a structure suited for SOT since the element is measured with a current passing through the tunnel barrier (Current Perpendicular to Plane) that can be advantageously combined with the SOT current flowing in plane, and thus without perturbation.

Details can be found in published articles (in particular: dx.doi.org/10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c05091).

Development of a new range of agile magnetic sensors.

Applications in the consumer, instrumentation and space sectors...

Spintronics offers many advantages for magnetic detection: sensitivity, small size and CMOS integrability. It is therefore already industrialized for many applications, including automotive, cell phones... In the STORM project, the main objective will be to develop a new generation of smart spintronic sensors based on TMR using reconfigurable magnetic layers. Customized tuning will be achieved by the action of spin-orbit coupling induced torques of the appropriate materials, allowing manipulation of the magnetization in specifically designed sensor stacking. This will result in a novel class of smart magnetic sensors, which will be addressable and tunable throughout the sensor's lifetime, allowing to suppress offset drift, reduce noise, adjust range, operate in a closed loop... The consortium includes two academic partners and one SME with complementary expertises from fundamentals in spin-orbitronics to sensor design and testing for commercialization.