An apparatus is provided which comprises: a magnetic junction having a magnet with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) relative to an x-y plane of a device. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises an interconnect partially adjacent to the structure of the magnetic junction, wherein the interconnect comprises a spin orbit material, wherein the interconnect has a pocket comprising non-spin orbit material, wherein the pocket is adjacent to the magnet of the magnetic junction. In some embodiments, the non-spin orbit material comprises metal which includes one or more of: Cu, Al, Ag, or Au.

An apparatus is provided which comprises: a magnetic junction having a magnet with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) relative to an x-y plane of a device. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises an interconnect partially adjacent to the structure of the magnetic junction, wherein the interconnect comprises a spin orbit material, wherein the interconnect has a pocket comprising non-spin orbit material, wherein the pocket is adjacent to the magnet of the magnetic junction. In some embodiments, the non-spin orbit material comprises metal which includes one or more of: Cu, Al, Ag, or Au.

A base element for switching a magnetization state of a nanomagnet includes a heavy-metal nanostrip having a surface. The heavy-metal nanostrip includes at least a first layer including a heavy metal and a second layer which includes a different heavy-metal. A ferromagnetic nanomagnet is disposed adjacent to the surface. The ferromagnetic nanomagnet includes a shape having a long axis and a short axis, the ferromagnetic nanomagnet having both a perpendicular-to-the-plane anisotropy H.sub.kz and an in-plane anisotropy H.sub.kx and the ferromagnetic nanomagnet having a first magnetization equilibrium state and a second magnetization equilibrium state. The first magnetization equilibrium state or the second magnetization equilibrium state is settable by a flow of electrical charge through the heavy-metal nanostrip. A direction of the flow of electrical charge through the heavy-metal nanostrip includes an angle ξ with respect to the short axis of the nanomagnet.

A base element for switching a magnetization state of a nanomagnet includes a heavy-metal nanostrip having a surface. The heavy-metal nanostrip includes at least a first layer including a heavy metal and a second layer which includes a different heavy-metal. A ferromagnetic nanomagnet is disposed adjacent to the surface. The ferromagnetic nanomagnet includes a shape having a long axis and a short axis, the ferromagnetic nanomagnet having both a perpendicular-to-the-plane anisotropy H.sub.kz and an in-plane anisotropy H.sub.kx and the ferromagnetic nanomagnet having a first magnetization equilibrium state and a second magnetization equilibrium state. The first magnetization equilibrium state or the second magnetization equilibrium state is settable by a flow of electrical charge through the heavy-metal nanostrip. A direction of the flow of electrical charge through the heavy-metal nanostrip includes an angle ξ with respect to the short axis of the nanomagnet.

A spin-orbit torque type magnetoresistance effect element including a magnetoresistance effect element having a first ferromagnetic metal layer with a fixed magnetization direction, a second ferromagnetic metal layer with a varying magnetization direction, and a non-magnetic layer sandwiched between the first ferromagnetic metal layer and the second ferromagnetic metal layer; and spin-orbit torque wiring that extends in a first direction intersecting with a stacking direction of the magnetoresistance effect element and that is joined to the second ferromagnetic metal layer; wherein the magnetization of the second ferromagnetic metal layer is oriented in the stacking direction of the magnetoresistance effect element; and the second ferromagnetic metal layer has shape anisotropy, such that a length along the first direction is greater than a length along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and to the stacking direction.

A spin-orbit torque type magnetoresistance effect element including a magnetoresistance effect element having a first ferromagnetic metal layer with a fixed magnetization direction, a second ferromagnetic metal layer with a varying magnetization direction, and a non-magnetic layer sandwiched between the first ferromagnetic metal layer and the second ferromagnetic metal layer; and spin-orbit torque wiring that extends in a first direction intersecting with a stacking direction of the magnetoresistance effect element and that is joined to the second ferromagnetic metal layer; wherein the magnetization of the second ferromagnetic metal layer is oriented in the stacking direction of the magnetoresistance effect element; and the second ferromagnetic metal layer has shape anisotropy, such that a length along the first direction is greater than a length along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction and to the stacking direction.

Aspects herein are directed to nucleating skyrmions in spintronic materials by dynamic manipulation of an in-plane magnetic field and related design of prototype devices for spintronic memory and processing. Different from conventional phase transition methods, nucleating and manipulating skyrmion using in-plane fields and spin current pulses is described. For example, in a material with rotatable anisotropy and asymmetry geometric confinement, a skyrmion can be nucleated by switching the in-plane fields. This has been experimentally confirmed in a centrosymmetric magnet, Fe.sub.3Sn.sub.2, with an engineered thickness gradient.

Aspects herein are directed to nucleating skyrmions in spintronic materials by dynamic manipulation of an in-plane magnetic field and related design of prototype devices for spintronic memory and processing. Different from conventional phase transition methods, nucleating and manipulating skyrmion using in-plane fields and spin current pulses is described. For example, in a material with rotatable anisotropy and asymmetry geometric confinement, a skyrmion can be nucleated by switching the in-plane fields. This has been experimentally confirmed in a centrosymmetric magnet, Fe.sub.3Sn.sub.2, with an engineered thickness gradient.

A magnetoresistive device includes a spin-orbit-torque (SOT) electrode layer, and a first magnetic layer, a first non-magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer sequentially stacked over the SOT electrode layer. An interface layer is located between the SOT electrode layer and the first magnetic layer, and an etch stop layer covers a surface portion of the SOT electrode layer and is located adjacent the interface layer. The interface layer includes a metal having a spin diffusion length that is greater than a thickness of the interface layer, and the etch stop layer includes an oxide or nitride material of the metal.

The disclosure is directed to spin-orbit torque (“SOT”) magnetoresistive random-access memory (“MRAM”) (“SOT-MRAM”) structures and methods. A new structure of the SOT channel has one or more magnetic insertion layers superposed or stacked with one or more heavy metal layer(s). Through proximity to a magnetic insertion layer, a surface portion of a heavy metal layer is magnetized to include a magnetization. The magnetization within the heavy metal layer enhances spin-dependent scattering, which leads to increased transverse spin imbalance.