Recent theories of spin-current-induced magnetization reversal are formulated in terms of a spin-mixing conductance Gmix. We evaluate Gmix from first-principles for a number of (dis)ordered interfaces between magnetic and non-magnetic materials. In multi-terminal devices, the magnetization direction of a one side of a tunnel junction or a ferromagnetic insulator can ideally be switched with negligible charge current dissipation.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0107589,
title = {Spin Torques in Ferromagnetic/Normal Metal Structures},
author = {K. Xia and P. J. Kelly and G. E. W. Bauer and A. Brataas and I. Turek},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0107589},
year = {2009}
}