Current-induced magnetization switching in perpendicularly magnetized V/CoFeB/MgO multilayers

The perpendicular magnetic anisotropy properties of CoFeB/MgO films on 3d light-metal vanadium have been experimentally investigated. The interfacial magnetic anisotropy is 1.4 erg/cm2 for the V/CoFeB/MgO multilayers annealed at 240 degrees C. A sign change of the effective torque fields with the increase of V thickness has been observed, which is confirmed by current-induced magnetization switching measurements, suggesting a competition of multiple effects on current-induced torques in the weakly spin-orbit coupled V/CoFeB/MgO multilayers. These findings have implications for the fundamental understanding of current-induced torque and further device applications using 3d light transition-metal based heterostructures.