Field-Symmetry-Engineered Magnetotransport in Magnetic NiO/Co/Pt Heterostructures

Area of Science:

• Spintronics
• Condensed Matter Physics
• Materials Science

Background:

• Magnetoresistance (MR) is a phenomenon where electrical resistance changes in response to an external magnetic field.
• Symmetric and asymmetric MR behaviors have distinct origins and applications.
• Controlling MR symmetry is crucial for advanced spintronic devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate bidirectional and reversible electrical conversion between asymmetric and symmetric magnetoresistance.
• To investigate the role of magnetic field symmetry in dictating magnetoresistance symmetry.
• To establish a novel approach for field-programmable spintronic devices.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of NiO/Co/Pt heterostructures.
• Application of magnetic field-symmetry engineering.
• Analysis of resistance changes under varying magnetic field symmetries.
• Investigation of magnetic moment reconfiguration using field-dependent analysis.

Main Results:

• Achieved electrical conversion between asymmetric and symmetric magnetoresistance.
• Demonstrated programmable room-temperature switching among asymmetric, forward-symmetric, and reverse-symmetric MR configurations.
• Identified polarity-selective, half-field mirror inversion of resistance spikes as the key mechanism.
• Linked reconfigurability to field-dependent reconfiguration of magnetic moment rotation sequences.

Conclusions:

• Magnetic field symmetry directly dictates emergent magnetoresistance symmetry in NiO/Co/Pt heterostructures.
• This work provides a novel method to tailor magnetoresistance by manipulating field symmetry without altering spin transport physics.
• The findings offer a prototypical platform for developing field-programmable spintronic devices.