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

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

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

Interaction Of Electrons With Spin Waves In The Bulk And In Multilayers

The exchange interaction between electrons and magnetic spins is considerably enhanced near interfaces, in magnetic multilayers. As a result, a dc current can be used to generate spin oscillations. We review theory and experimental evidence. The s-d exchange interaction causes a rapid precession of itinerant conduction-electron spins s around the localized spins S of magnetic electrons. Because of the precession, the time-averaged interaction torque between s and S vanishes. An interface between a magnetic layer and a spacer causes a local coherence between the precession phases of differnt electrons, within 10 nm from the interface, and restores the torque. Also, a second magnetic layer with pinned S is used to prepare s in a specific direction. the current-induced drive torque of s on S in the active layer may be calculated from the spin current (Slonczewski) or from the spin imbalance Delta-mu (Berger). Spin current and Delta-mu are proportional to each other, and can arise from Fermi-surface translation, as well as from expansion/contraction.Comment: Invited paper at Seattle MMM01 Conference, Nov. 2001 (to appear in J. Appl. Phys.

Analytical solution of the equation of motion for a rigid domain wall in a magnetic material with perpendicular anisotropy

This paper reports the solution of the equation of motion for a domain wall in a magnetic material which exhibits high magneto-crystalline anisotropy. Starting from the Landau-Lifschitz-Gilbert equation for field-induced motion, we solve the equation to give an analytical expression, which specifies the domain wall position as a function of time. Taking parameters from a Co/Pt multilayer system, we find good quantitative agreement between calculated and experimentally determined wall velocities, and show that high field uniform wall motion occurs when wall rigidity is assumed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Reduction of the Three Dimensional Schrodinger Equation for Multilayered Films

In this paper, we present a method for reducing the three dimensional Schrodinger equation to study confined metallic states, such as quantum well states, in a multilayer film geometry. While discussing some approximations that are employed when dealing with the three dimensionality of the problem, we derive a one dimensional equation suitable for studying such states using an envelope function approach. Some applications to the Cu/Co multilayer system with regard to spin tunneling/rotations and angle resolved photoemission are discussed.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figur

Magnetoresistance and spin-transfer torque in magnetic tunnel junctions

We comment on both recent progress and lingering puzzles related to research on magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). MTJs are already being used in applications such as magnetic-field sensors in the read heads of disk drives, and they may also be the first device geometry in which spin-torque effects are applied to manipulate magnetic dynamics, in order to make nonvolatile magnetic random access memory. However, there remain many unanswered questions about such basic properties as the magnetoresistance of MTJs, how their properties change as a function of tunnel-barrier thickness and applied bias, and what are the magnitude and direction of the spin-transfer-torque vector induced by a tunnel current.Comment: 37 pages, 2 figures. Contribution to a collection of "Current Perspectives" articles on spin transfer torque now available in the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Material

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