Electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic RuO2

Yichi Zhang; Hua Bai; Jiankun Dai; Lei Han; Chong Chen; Shixuan Liang; Yanzhang Cao; Yingying Zhang; Qian Wang; Wenxuan Zhu; Feng Pan; Cheng Song

doi:10.1038/s41467-025-60891-2

Electrical manipulation of spin splitting torque in altermagnetic RuO₂

Nat Commun. 2025 Jul 1;16(1):5646. doi: 10.1038/s41467-025-60891-2.

Authors

Yichi Zhang^{1

2}, Hua Bai¹, Jiankun Dai¹, Lei Han¹, Chong Chen¹, Shixuan Liang¹, Yanzhang Cao¹, Yingying Zhang¹, Qian Wang¹, Wenxuan Zhu¹, Feng Pan¹, Cheng Song³

Affiliations

¹ Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
² Key Laboratory of Materials Modification by Laser, Ion and Electron Beams (Ministry of Education), School of Physics, Dalian University of Technology, Dalian, China.
³ Key Laboratory of Advanced Materials (Ministry of Education), School of Materials Science and Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China. songcheng@mail.tsinghua.edu.cn.

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.

Abstract

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