Joule Heating Effect on Field-Free Magnetization Switching by Spin-Orbit Torque in Exchange-Biased Systems

Deterministic switching of magnetization via spin-orbit torque, without an external magnetic field, is an attractive approach for nonvolatile memory and logic devices. This can be accomplished using in-plane exchange bias instead of an applied field. The authors study the mechanism of this switching, and expose the importance of Joule heating: Field-free current-driven switching is achieved in experiments, but care must be taken so that heating does not decrease exchange bias and spoil the switching.