Spin torque on the surface of graphene in the presence of spin orbit splitting

Abstract

We study theoretically the spin transfer torque of a ferromagnetic layer coupled to (deposited onto) a graphene surface in the presence of the Rashba spin orbit coupling (RSOC). We show that the RSOC induces an effective magnetic field, which will result in the spin precession of conduction electrons.We derive correspondingly the generalized Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation, which describes the precessional motion of local magnetization under the influence of the spin orbit effect. Our theoretical estimate indicates that the spin orbit spin torque may have significant effect on the magnetization dynamics of the ferromagnetic layer coupled to the graphene surface. © 2013 Author(s).