We present a method to measure the effective field contribution to
spin-transfer-induced interactions between the magnetic layers in a trilayer
nanostructure, which enables spin-current effects to be distinguished from the
usual charge-current-induced magnetic fields. This technique is demonstrated on
submicron Co/Cu/Co nanopillars. The hysteresis loop of one of the magnetic
layers in the trilayer is measured as a function of current while the direction
of magnetization of the other layer is kept fixed, first in one direction and
then in the opposite direction. These measurements show a current-dependent
shift of the hysteresis loop which, based on the symmetry of the magnetic
response, we associate with spin-transfer. The observed loop-shift with applied
current at room temperature is reduced in measurements at 4.2 K. We interprete
these results both in terms of a spin-current dependent effective activation
barrier for magnetization reversal and a spin-current dependent effective
magnetic field. From data at 4.2 K we estimate the magnitude of the
spin-transfer induced effective field to be ∼1.5×10−7 Oe
cm2/A, about a factor of 5 less than the spin-transfer torque.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure