Current-induced torque effects in magnetic heterostructures: Measurement, modulation, and applications

Current-induced torque effects in magnetic heterostructures allow for rapid and efficient electrical manipulation of magnetic moments, laying the physical foundation for the development of novel information storage, sensing, and computing logic devices. This review centers on the measurement, modulation, and applications of these effects. It begins with a detailed elaboration of their physical origins in magnetic heterostructures, followed by a highlight of key advanced characterization techniques, including hysteresis loop shift, the second harmonic method, and spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance. Subsequently, the modulation strategies based on material selection, interface engineering, device structure design, and multi-physical field coupling are systematically reviewed. In addition, the potential applications in magnetic memory, sensors, logic devices, and artificial neural networks are demonstrated. The review concludes with an outlook on promising research directions.