Magnetization switching modes in nanopillar spin valve under the external field

• Published in: Science China. Physics, mechanics & astronomy mechanics & astronomy, 2011-07, Vol.54 (7), p.1227-1234
• Main Authors: Huang, HouBing, Ma, XingQiao, Yue, Tao, Xiao, ZhiHua, Shi, SanQiang, Chen, LongQing
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Astronomy; Classical and Continuum Physics; Current density; Domain walls; Magnetic fields; Magnetic switching; Magnetization; Magnetization reversal; Nanomaterials; Nanostructure; Nucleation; Observations and Techniques; Physics; Physics and Astronomy; Research Paper; Spin valves; Switching; Trajectory analysis; 交换电流密度; 垂直磁场; 开关模式; 模式切换; 畴壁运动; 磁化电流; 自旋阀; 钴/铜/钴
• ISSN: 1674-7348; 1869-1927
• DOI: 10.1007/s11433-011-4313-1

The current-induced magnetic switching is studied in Co/Cu/Co nanopillar with an in-plane magnetization traversed under the perpendicular-to-plane external field. Magnetization switching is found to take place when the current density exceeds a threshold. By analyzing precessional trajectories, evolutions of domain walls and magnetization switching times under the perpendicular magnetic field, there are two different magnetization switching modes： nucleation and domain wall motion re- versal; uniform magnetization reversal. The first mode occurs at lower current density, which is realized by the formation of the reversal nucleus and domain wall motion; while the second mode occurs through complete magnetization reversal at higher current density. Furthermore, the switching time reduces as the spin-polarized current density increases, which can also be grouped into two reversal modes.