Field-free Fast Reliable Deterministic Switching in Perpendicular Spin-Orbit Torque MRAM Cells

We demonstrate that the spin-orbit torques generated by two orthogonal consecutive current pulses enable reliable and deterministic switching of a perpendicularly magnetized free magnetic layer without applying an external magnetic field. The switching current can be reduced by allowing the wire through which the second pulse is delivered to overlap only partly with the free layer. Surprisingly, the partial overlap makes the switching faster and 100% robust.