Linear, Non-Linear, and Synchronizing Spin Wave Modes in Spin Hall Nano-Oscillators

Spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs) are nanoscale spintronic devices that generate microwave signals with highly tunable frequency. This thesis focuses on improving the signal quality of nanoconstriction-based SHNOs and also on developing a better understanding of their magnetization dynamics. In the first part of the thesis, we fabricate and characterize low-threshold current SHNOs using NiFe/β-W bilayers. Due to the high spin Hall angle of the β-phase W, the auto-oscillation threshold current is improved by 60% over SHNOs based on NiFe/Pt. We also demonstrate low operational current by utilizing W/Co20Fe60B20/MgO stacks on highly resistive silicon substrates. Thanks to the moderate perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) of Co20Fe60B20, these SHNOs show much wider frequency tunability than SHNOs based on NiFe with no PMA. Performance is further improved by using highly resistive silicon substrates with a high heat conductance, dissipating the generated excess heat much better than sapphire substrates. Moreover, it also means that the fabrication of SHNOs is now compatible with conventional CMOS fabrication, which is necessary if SHNOs are to be used in integrated circuits. In another approach, we attempt to decrease the threshold current of SHNOs based on an NiFe/Pt stack by inserting an ultra-thin Hf layer in the middle of the stack. This Hf dusting decreases the damping of the bilayer linearly but also degrades its spin Hall efficiency. These opposing trends determine the optimum Hf thickness to ≈0.4 nm, at which the auto-oscillation threshold current is minimum. Our achievements arising from these three approaches show a promising path towards the realization of low-current SHNO microwave devices with highly efficient spin-orbit torque. In the next chapter, we use both electrical experimentation and micromagnetic simulation to study the auto-oscillating spin wave modes in nanoconstriction-based SHNOs as a function of the drive current and the applied field. First, we investigate the modes under an in-plane low-range field of 40-80 mT, which is useful for developing low-field spintronic devices with applications in microwave signal generation. It is also essential for future studies on the synchronization of multiple SHNOs. Next, using an out-of-plane applied magnetic field, we observe three different modes and demonstrate switching between them under a fixed external field by tuning only the drive current. The flexibility of these nanopatterned spin Hall nano-oscillators is desirable for implementing oscillator-based neuromorphic computing devices. In the final part, we study the synchronization of multiple nanoconstriction-based SHNOs in weak in-plane fields. We electrically investigate the synchronization versus the angle of the field, observing synchronization for angles below a threshold angle. In agreement with the experimental results, the spatial profile of the spin waves from the simulations shows that the relative angle between the modes from the nanoconstrictions decreases with decreasing the field angle, thus facilitating synchronization. The synchronization observed at low in-plane fields improves the microwave signal quality and could also be useful for applications such as neuromorphic computing.QC 20180907