Reduction of the spin-torque critical current by partially canceling the free layer demagnetization field

被引：57

作者：

Liu, Luqiao ^{[1
]}

Moriyama, Takahiro ^{[1
]}

Ralph, D. C. ^{[1
]}

Buhrman, R. A. ^{[1
]}

机构：

[1] Cornell Univ, Ithaca, NY 14853 USA

来源：

APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS | 2009年 / 94卷 / 12期

基金：

美国国家科学基金会;

关键词：

cobalt; critical currents; demagnetisation; magnetic anisotropy; magnetic moments; magnetic multilayers; nickel; thermal stability; MAGNETIZATION REVERSAL; MULTILAYERS; NANOPILLARS; ANISOTROPY;

D O I：

10.1063/1.3107262

中图分类号：

O59 [应用物理学];

学科分类号：

070305 [高分子化学与物理];

摘要：

We significantly reduce the critical current I-c0 for the onset of spin torque switching of the free layer in nanometer-scale in-plane magnetized spin valves by partially cancelling its intrinsic demagnetization field through the utilization of Co/Ni multilayer free layers. The out-of-plane magnetic anisotropy arising from the Co/Ni interfaces reduces the effective demagnetization field (H-eff) while not significantly affecting the thermal stability of the free layer. A zero-thermal-fluctuation critical current density J(c0)similar to 2x10(6) A/cm(2) is determined through both current ramp rate and nanosecond pulse measurements, and comparisons with large H-eff control samples confirm that this strategy is efficient in substantially decreasing I-c0.

引用

页数：3

共 21 条

[1]

Quantitative study of magnetization reversal by spin-polarized current in magnetic multilayer nanopillars [J].