Simulation of multilevel cell spin transfer switching in a full-Heusler alloy spin-valve nanopillar

A multilevel cell spin transfer switching process in a full-Heusler Co2FeAl0.5Si0.5 alloy spin-valve nanopillar was investigated using micromagnetic simulations. An intermediate state of two-step spin transfer magnetization switching was reported due to the four-fold magnetocrystalline anisotropy; h...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Applied physics letters 2013-01, Vol.102 (4)
Main Authors: Huang, H. B., Ma, X. Q., Liu, Z. H., Zhao, C. P., Shi, S. Q., Chen, L. Q.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Magnetic anisotropy
Magnetization
Multilevel
Nanocomposites
Nanomaterials
Nanostructure
Simulation
Switching
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:A multilevel cell spin transfer switching process in a full-Heusler Co2FeAl0.5Si0.5 alloy spin-valve nanopillar was investigated using micromagnetic simulations. An intermediate state of two-step spin transfer magnetization switching was reported due to the four-fold magnetocrystalline anisotropy; however, we discovered the intermediate state has two possible directions of −90° and +90°, which could not be detected in the experiments due to the same resistance of the −90° state and the +90° state. The domain structures were analyzed to determine the mechanism of domain wall motion and magnetization switching under a large current. Based on two intermediate states, we reported a multilevel bit spin transfer multi-step magnetization switching by changing the magnetic anisotropy in a full-Heusler alloy nanopillar.
ISSN:0003-6951
1077-3118
DOI:10.1063/1.4789867