English

Large-angle, gigahertz-rate random telegraph switching induced by spin-momentum transfer

Materials Science 2009-11-10 v1

Abstract

We show that spin-polarized dc current passing through a small magnetic element induces two-state, random telegraph switching of the magnetization via the spin-momentum transfer effect. The resistances of the states differ by up to 50% of the change due to complete magnetization reversal. Fluctuations are seen for a wide range of currents and magnetic fields, with rates that can exceed 2 GHz, and involve collective motion of a large volume (10^4 nm^3) of spins. Switching rate trends with field and current indicate that increasing temperature alone cannot explain the dynamics. The rates approach a stochastic regime wherein dynamics are governed by both precessional motion and thermal perturbations.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0404109,
  title  = {Large-angle, gigahertz-rate random telegraph switching induced by spin-momentum transfer},
  author = {Matthew R. Pufall and William H. Rippard and Shehzaad Kaka and Steven E. Russek and Thomas J. Silva and Jordan Katine and Matt Carey},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0404109},
  year   = {2009}
}

Comments

14 pages (with captions), 4 Figures