Spin-transfer pulse switching: From the dynamic to the thermally activated regime

摘要

The effect of thermal fluctuations on spin-transfer switching has been studied for a broad range ofntime scales u0002subnanoseconds to secondsu0003 in a model system, a uniaxial thin film nanomagnet. Thennanomagnet is incorporated into a spin-valve nanopillar, which is subject to spin-polarized currentnpulses of variable amplitude and duration. Two physical regimes are clearly distinguished: a longnpulse duration regime, in which reversal occurs by spin-transfer assisted thermal activation over annenergy barrier, and a short-time large pulse amplitude regime, in which the switching probability isndetermined by the spin-angular momentum in the current pulse. © 2010 American Institute ofnPhysics. u0004doi:10.1063/1.3532960