Interface-generated orbital currents

Spin and orbital currents can be used in spintronic devices to electrically control the magnetization of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets, providing an attractive write mechanism for magnetic memories. Discovering efficient ways to generate currents of angular momentum is thus a hallmark goal of spintronics. Theoretical and experimental evidence suggests that, under an applied, in plane electric field, out-of-plane flowing spin currents are generated at the interface between magnetic and nonmagnetic materials. However, symmetry arguments guarantee that interfaces must also generate currents of orbital angular momentum. Here we determine the strength and magnetization dependence of such interface-generated orbital currents using first principles transport calculations. Shedding light on new sources of angular momentum transfer within magnetic heterostructures will help pave the way for more energy efficient magnetic memories.