From giant magnetoresistance to current-induced switching by spin transfer

We develop a model of the current-induced torque due to spin transfer in a layered system consisting of two ferromagnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic layer. The description is based on (i) the classical spin diffusion equations for the distribution functions used in the theory of current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance (CPP-GMR), (ii) the relevant boundary conditions for the longitudinal and transverse components of the spin current in the situation of quasi-interfacial absorption of the transverse components in a magnetic layer. The torque is expressed as a function of the usual parameters derived from CPP-GMR experiments and two additional parameters involved in the transverse boundary conditions. Our model is used to describe qualitatively normal and inverse switching phenomena studied in recent experiments. We also present a structure for which we predict only states of steady precession above a certain critical current. We finally discuss the limits of a small angle between magnetic moments of the ferromagnetic layers and of vanishing imaginary part of the mixing conductance.