Heat assisted spin torque switching of quasistable nanomagnets across a vacuum gap

摘要

Current-induced magnetization switching of thermally quasistable magnetic nanoislands isndemonstrated using a spin-polarized scanning tunneling microscope. The magnetization of annindividual Fe nanoisland consisting of about 40 atoms on a Wu0001110u0002 surface is reversibly switchednbetween two quasistable states by the application of spin-polarized tunnel current pulses without annapplied magnetic field. The pulse length is shown to be crucial for a high switching efficiency.nSweeping the tunnel current from the nanoampere to the microampere regime allows for thendetermination of critical switching currents.