Coherent suppression of magnetic ringing in microscopic spin valve elements

We demonstrate the coherent suppression of magnetic precession in microscopic spin valve elements after the decay of ultrashort magnetic field pulses. The magnetization dynamics in 1 mumx4 mum wide giant magnetoresistance devices are studied by measuring the magnetotransport response to ultrashort magnetic field pulses (pulse length 0.2-4 ns). Under the influence of a static field perpendicular to the pulsed field, pronounced magnetic precession is observed after the onset of the pulse as well as upon pulse termination. The precession after the pulse decay ("ringing") can be effectively suppressed by adapting the effective pulse length to the precession period. (C) 2002 American Institute of Physics.