Influence Of Current Leads On Critical Current For Spin Precession In Magnetic Multilayers

In magnetic multilayers, a dc current induces a spin precession above a certain critical current. Drive torques responsible for this can be calculated from the spin accumulation $\bar{\Delta\mu}$. Existing calculations of $\bar{\Delta\mu}$ assume a uniform cross section of conductors. But most multilayer samples are pillars with current leads flaring out immediately to a much wider cross-section area than that of the pillar itself. We write spin-diffusion equations of a form valid for variable cross section, and solve the case of flat electrodes with radial current distribution perpendicular to the axis of the pillar. Because of the increased volume available for conduction-electron spin relaxation in such leads, $\bar{\Delta\mu}$ is reduced in the pillar by at least a factor of 2 below its value for uniform cross section, for given current density in the pillar. Also, $\bar{\Delta\mu}$ and the critical current density for spin precession become nearly independent of the thickness of the pinned magnetic layer, and more dependent on the thickness of the spacer, in better agreement with measurements by Albert et al. (2002).Comment: To appear in J. Magn. Magn. Mate

Optical far-infrared properties of graphene monolayer and multilayers

We analyze the features of the graphene mono- and multilayer reflectance in the far-infrared region as a function of frequency, temperature, and carrier density taking the intraband conductance and the interband electron absorbtion into account. The dispersion of plasmon mode of the multilayers is calculated using Maxwell's equations with the influence of retardation included. At low temperatures and high electron densities, the reflectance of multilayers as a function of frequency has the sharp downfall and the subsequent deep well due to the threshold of electron interband absorbtion.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figure

Current-induced spin-wave excitations in a single ferromagnetic layer

A new current induced spin-torque transfer effect has been observed in a single ferromagnetic layer without resorting to multilayers. At a specific current density of one polarity injected from a point contact, abrupt resistance changes due to current-induced spin wave excitations have been observed. The critical current at the onset of spin-wave excitations depends linearly on the external field applied perpendicular to the layer. The observed effect is due to current-driven heterogeneity in an otherwise uniform ferromagnetic layer.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Current-Induced Magnetization Reversal in High Magnetic Fields in Co/Cu/Co Nanopillars

Current-induced magnetization dynamics in Co/Cu/Co trilayer nanopillars (~100nm in diameter) has been studied experimentally for large applied fields perpendicular to the layers. An abrupt and hysteretic increase in dynamic resistance is observed at high current densities for one polarity of the current, comparable to the giant magnetoresistance effect observed at low fields. A micromagnetic model, that includes a spin-transfer torque, suggests that the current induces a complete reversal of the thin Co layer to alignment antiparallel to the applied field-that is, to a state of maximum magnetic energy.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, (submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett.), added missing figure caption of fig. 3, updated to published versio

Effect of Antiferromagnetic Interlayer Coupling on Current-Assisted Magnetization Switching

We compare magnetization switching in Co/Cu/Co nanopillars with uncoupled and dipole-field coupled Co layers. In uncoupled nanopillars, current-driven switching is hysteretic at low magnetic field H and changes to reversible, characterized by telegraph noise, at high H. We show that dipolar coupling both affects the switching current and causes the switching to become reversible at small H. The coupling thus changes the switching to reversible, hysteretic, and then reversible again as H increases. We describe our results in terms of current-assisted thermal activation.Comment: 3 pages, 3 figure

Dynamics of Domain Wall in a Biaxial Ferromagnet With Spin-torque

The dynamics of the domain wall (DW) in a biaxial ferromagnet interacting with a spin-polarized current are described by sine-gordon (SG) equation coupled with Gilbert damping term in this paper. Within our frame-work of this model, we obtain a threshold of the current in the motion of a single DW with the perturbation theory on kink soliton solution to the corresponding ferromagnetic system, and the threshold is shown to be dependent on the Gilbert damping term. Also, the motion properties of the DW are discussed for the zero- and nonzero-damping cases, which shows that our theory to describe the dynamics of the DW are self-consistent.Comment: 7pages, 3figure

Temperature- and Bias-dependence of magnetoresistance in doped manganite thin film trilayer junctions

Thin film trilayer junction of La$$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ - SrTiO$_3$ - La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ shows a factor of 9.7 change in resistance, in a magnetic field around 100 Oe at 14K. The junction magnetoresistance is bias and temperature dependent. The energy scales associated with bias and temperature dependence are an order of magnitude apart. The same set of energies also determine the bias and temperature dependence of the differential conductance of the junction. We discuss these results in terms of metallic cluster inclusions at the junction-barrier interface.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure

Relaxing-Precessional Magnetization Switching

A new way of magnetization switching employing both the spin-transfer torque and the torque by a magnetic field is proposed. The solution of the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation shows that the dynamics of the magnetization in the initial stage of the switching is similar to that in the precessional switching, while that in the final stage is rather similar to the relaxing switching. We call the present method the relaxing-precessional switching. It offers a faster and lower-power-consuming way of switching than the relaxing switching and a more controllable way than the precessional switching