No Arabic abstract
We perform 3D micromagnetic simulations of current-driven magnetization dynamics in nanoscale exchange biased spin-valves that take account of (i) back action of spin-transfer torque on the pinned layer, (ii) non-linear damping and (iii) random thermal torques. Our simulations demonstrate that all these factors significantly impact the current-driven dynamics and lead to a better agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental results. In particular, we observe that, at a non-zero temperature and a sub-critical current, the magnetization dynamics exhibits nonstationary behaviour in which two independent persistent oscillatory modes are excited which compete for the angular momentum supplied by spin-polarized current. Our results show that this multi-mode behaviour can be induced by combined action of thermal and spin transfer torques.
We experimentally show that exchange magnons can be detected using a combination of spin pumping and inverse spin-Hall effect (iSHE) proving its wavelength integrating capability down to the sub-micrometer scale. The magnons were injected in a ferrimagnetic yttrium iron garnet film by parametric pumping and the iSHE-induced voltage was detected in an attached Pt layer. The role of the density, wavelength, and spatial localization of the magnons for the spin pumping efficiency is revealed. This study opens the field of the magnon-based information processing to magnons with nano-scale wavelengths.
The spin injection and accumulation in metallic lateral spin valves with transparent interfaces is studied using d.c. injection current. Unlike a.c.-based techniques, this allows investigating the effects of the direction and magnitude of the injected current. We find that the spin accumulation is reversed by changing the direction of the injected current, whereas its magnitude does not change. The injection mechanism for both current directions is thus perfectly symmetric, leading to the same spin injection efficiency for both spin types. This result is accounted for by a spin-dependent diffusion model. Joule heating increases considerably the local temperature in the spin valves when high current densities are injected ($sim$80--105 K for 1--2$times10^{7}$A cm$^{-2}$), strongly affecting the spin accumulation.
An in situ measurement of spin transport in a graphene nonlocal spin valve is used to quantify the spin current absorbed by a small (250 nm $times$ 750 nm) metallic island. The experiment allows for successive depositions of either Fe or Cu without breaking vacuum, so that the thickness of the island is the only parameter that is varied. Furthermore, by measuring the effect of the island using separate contacts for injection and detection, we isolate the effect of spin absorption from any change in the spin injection and detection mechanisms. As inferred from the thickness dependence, the effective spin current $j_e = frac{2e}{hbar} j_s$ absorbed by Fe is as large as $10^8$ A/m$^2$. The maximum value of $j_e$ is limited by the resistance-area product of the graphene/Fe interface, which is as small as 3 $Omegamu$m$^2$. The spin current absorbed by the same thickness of Cu is smaller than for Fe, as expected given the longer spin diffusion length and larger spin resistance of Cu compared to Fe. These results allow for a quantitative assessment of the prospects for achieving spin transfer torque switching of a nanomagnet using a graphene-based nonlocal spin valve.
The charge and spin diffusion equations taking into account spin-flip and spin-transfer torque were numerically solved using a finite element method in complex non-collinear geometry with strongly inhomogeneous current flow. As an illustration, spin-dependent transport through a non-magnetic nanoconstriction separating two magnetic layers was investigated. Unexpected results such as vortices of spin-currents in the vicinity of the nanoconstriction were obtained. The angular variations of magnetoresistance and spin-transfer torque are strongly influenced by the structure geometry.
A mechanism to generate a spin-polarized current in a two-terminal zigzag silicene nanoribbon is predicted. As a weak local exchange field that is parallel to the surface of silicene is applied on one of edges of the silicene nanoribbon, a gap is opened in the corresponding gapless edge states but another pair of gapless edge states with opposite spin are still protected by the time-reversal symmetry. Hence, a spin-polarized current can be induced in the gap opened by the local exchange field in this two-terminal system. What is important is that the spin-polarized current can be obtained even in the absence of Rashba spin-orbit coupling and in the case of the very weak exchange filed. That is to say, the mechanism to generate the spin-polarized currents can be easily realized experimentally.We also find that the spin-polarized current is insensitive to weak disorder.