Abstract
The mutual dependence of spin-dependent conduction and magnetization dynamics of ferromagnets provides the key mechanisms in various spin-dependent phenomena. We compute the response of the conduction electron spins in a spatial and time varying magnetization in the time-dependent semiclassical transport theory. We show that the induced nonequilibrium conduction spin density in turn generates four spin torques acting on the magnetization–with each torque playing a different role in magnetization dynamics. By comparing with recent theoretical models, we find that one of these torques which has not been previously identified is crucial to consistently interpreting experimental data on domain wall motion.
- Received 26 March 2004
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.127204
©2004 American Physical Society