We study spin-orbit torques and charge pumping in magnetic quasi-one dimensional zigzag nanoribbons with hexagonal lattice, in the presence of large intrinsic spin-orbit coupling. Such a system experiences topological phase transition from a trivial band insulator to a quantum spin Hall insulator either by tuning the magnetization direction or the intrinsic spin-orbit coupling. We find that spin-charge conversion efficiency (i.e. spin-orbit torque and charge pumping) is dramatically enhanced at the topological transition, displaying a substantial angular anisotropy.
@article{arxiv.1604.08782,
title = {Tunable spin-charge conversion through topological phase transitions in zigzag nanoribbons},
author = {Hang Li and Aurelien Manchon},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1604.08782},
year = {2016}
}