Static magnetic proximity effects and spin Hall magnetoresistance in Pt / Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 and inverted Y 3 Fe 5 O 12 / Pt bilayers

In spintronics and spin caloritronics, the understanding of spin angular momentum transfer across heavy metal/ferromagnetic insulator interfaces is of fundamental importance. There has been much controversy about the presence of magnetic proximity effects at such interfaces. Using element-selective x-ray and angle-resolved magnetotransport measurements, the authors present here a systematic study of Pt/Y${}_{3}$Fe${}_{5}$O${}_{12}$ heterostructures, with different order of the layer stacking resulting in different interface properties. They demonstrate that combined temperature-dependent x-ray and magnetotransport studies are essential to unambiguously confirm or exclude the presence of magnetic proximity effects.