Magnetic asymmetry induced anomalous spin-orbit torque in IrMn

We demonstrate an anomalous spin-orbit torque induced by the broken magnetic symmetry in the antiferromagnet IrMn. We study the magnetic structure of three phases of IrMn thin films using neutron diffraction technique. The magnetic mirror symmetry M' is broken laterally in both L1(0)-IrMn and L1(2)-IrMn3 but not gamma-IrMn3. We observe an out-of-plane dampinglike spin-orbit torque in both L1(0)-IrMn/permalloy and L1(2)-IrMn3/permalloy bilayers but not in gamma-IrMn3/permalloy. This is consistent with both the symmetry analysis on the effects of a broken M' on spin-orbit torque and the theoretical predictions of the spin Hall effect and the Rashba-Edelstein effect. In addition, the measured spin-orbit torque efficiencies are 0.61 +/- 0.01, 1.01 +/- 0.03, and 0.80 +/- 0.01 for the L1(0), L1(2), and gamma phases, respectively. Our work highlights the critical roles of the magnetic asymmetry in spin-orbit torque generation.