Current-induced switching in a single exchange-biased ferromagnetic layer

T. Y. Chen, Y. Ji, C. L. Chien, and M. D. Stiles

Journal of Applied Physics 97(10), 10C709 (2005).

Abstract:

We demonstrate current-induced switching effects in a single exchanged-biased ferromagnetic layer. A nanodomain can be switched within the ferromagnetic layer by a spin polarized current injected through a point contact. The high resistance of the hysteretic switching is due to formation of a domain wall between the nanodomain and the rest of the layer. The switching behavior observed in a single layer is a new type of spin-transfer torque effect which is the inverse effect of domain wall magnetoresistance. At room temperature, non-hysteretic switching behavior with a broad switching current density range is observed.




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