  The low power manipulation of magnetization is currently a highly
sought-after objective in spintronics. Non ferromagnetic large spin-orbit
coupling heavy metal (NM) / ferromagnet (FM) heterostructures offer interesting
elements of response to this issue, by granting the manipulation of the FM
magnetization by the NM spin Hall effect (SHE) generated spin current.
Additional functionalities, such as the electric field control of the spin
current generation, can be offered using multifunctional ferromagnets. We have
studied the spin current transfer processes between Pt and the multifunctional
magnetoelectric Ga0.6Fe1.4O3 (GFO). In particular, via angular dependent
magnetotransport measurements, we were able to differentiate between magnetic
proximity effect (MPE)-induced anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) and spin
Hall magnetoresistance (SMR). Our analysis shows that SMR is the dominant
phenomenon at all temperatures and is the only one to be considered near room
temperature, with a magnitude comparable to those observed in Pd/YIG or Pt/YIG
heterostructures. These results indicate that magnetoelectric GFO thin films
show promises for achieving an electric-field control of the spin current
generation in NM/FM oxide-based heterostructures.
