Large microwave generation from d.c. driven magnetic vortex oscillators in magnetic tunnel junctions

Spin polarized current can excite the magnetization of a ferromagnet through the transfer of spin angular momentum to the local spin system. This pure spin-related transport phenomena leads to alluring possibilities for the achievement of a nanometer scale, CMOS compatible and tunable microwave generator operating at low bias for future wireless communications. Microwave emission generated by the persitent motion of magnetic vortices induced by spin transfer effect seems to be a unique manner to reach appropriate spectral linewidth. However, in metallic systems, where such vortex oscillations have been observed, the resulting microwave power is much too small. Here we present experimental evidences of spin-transfer induced core vortex precessions in MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions with similar good spectral quality but an emitted power at least one order of magnitude stronger. More importantly, unlike to others spin transfer excitations, the thorough comparison between experimental results and models provide a clear textbook illustration of the mechanisms of vortex precessions induced by spin transfer

Direct observation of a propagating spin wave induced by spin-transfer torque

Spin torque oscillators with nanoscale electrical contacts(1-4) are able to produce coherent spin waves in extended magnetic films, and offer an attractive combination of electrical and magnetic field control, broadband operation(5,6), fast spin-wave frequency modulation(7-9), and the possibility of synchronizing multiple spin-wave injection sites(10,11). However, many potential applications rely on propagating (as opposed to localized) spin waves, and direct evidence for propagation has been lacking. Here, we directly observe a propagating spin wave launched from a spin torque oscillator with a nanoscale electrical contact into an extended Permalloy (nickel iron) film through the spin transfer torque effect. The data, obtained by wave-vector-resolved micro-focused Brillouin light scattering, show that spin waves with tunable frequencies can propagate for several micrometres. Micromagnetic simulations provide the theoretical support to quantitatively reproduce the results

Substantial reduction of critical current for magnetization switching in an exchange-biased spin-valve

Great interest 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 in current-induced magnetic excitation and switching in a magnetic nanopillar has been caused by the theoretical predictions11, 12 of these phenomena. The concept of using a spin-polarized current to switch the magnetization orientation of a magnetic layer provides a possible way to realize future 'current-driven' devices13: in such devices, direct switching of the magnetic memory bits would be produced by a local current application, instead of by a magnetic field generated by attached wires. Until now, all the reported work on current-induced magnetization switching has been concentrated on a simple ferromagnet/Cu/ferromagnet trilayer. Here we report the observation of current-induced magnetization switching in exchange-biased spin valves (ESPVs) at room temperature. The ESPVs clearly show current-induced magnetization switching behaviour under a sweeping direct current with a very high density. We show that insertion of a ruthenium layer between an ESPV nanopillar and the top electrode effectively decreases the critical current density from about 108 to 107 A cm-2. In a well-designed 'antisymmetric' ESPV structure, this critical current density can be further reduced to 2 106 A cm-2. We believe that the substantial reduction of critical current could make it possible for current-induced magnetization switching to be directly applied in spintronic devices, such as magnetic random-access memory

Large Hysteresis effect in Synchronization of Nanocontact Vortex Oscillators by Microwave Fields

Current-induced vortex oscillations in an extended thin-film with point-contact geometry are considered. The synchronization of these oscillations with a microwave external magnetic field is investigated by a reduced order model that takes into account the dynamical effects associated with the significant deformation of the vortex structure produced by the current, which cannot be taken care of by using the standard rigid vortex theory. The complete phase diagram of the vortex oscillation dynamics is derived and it is shown that strong hysteretic behavior occurs in the synchronization with the external field. The complex nonlinear nature of the synchronization manifests itself also through the appearance of asymmetry in the locking frequency bands for moderate microwave field amplitudes. Predictions from the reduced order model are confirmed by full micromagnetic simulations