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Thickness dependence and the role of spin transfer torque in nonlinear giant magnetoresistance of permalloy dual spin valves

N. Banerjee, A. Aziz, M. Ali, J. W. A. Robinson, B. J. Hickey, and M. G. Blamire
Phys. Rev. B 82, 224402 – Published 2 December 2010

Abstract

The recent discovery of nonlinear current-dependent magnetoresistance in dual spin valve devices [A. Aziz, O. P. Wessely, M. Ali, D. M. Edwards, C. H. Marrows, B. J. Hickey, and M. G. Blamire, Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 237203 (2009)] opens up the possibility for distinct physics which extends the standard model of giant magnetoresistance. When the outer ferromagnetic layers of a dual spin valve are antiparallel, the resulting accumulation of spin in the middle ferromagnetic layer strongly modifies its bulk and interfacial spin asymmetry and resistance. Here, we report experimental evidence of the role of bulk spin accumulation in this nonlinear effect and show that interfacial spin accumulation alone cannot account for the observed dependence of the effect on the thickness of the middle ferromagnetic layer. It is also shown that spin torque acting on the middle ferromagnetic layer combined with the nonlinear effect might be useful in understanding the dynamical features associated with the nonlinear behavior.

    • Received 10 September 2010

    DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.82.224402

    © 2010 The American Physical Society

    Authors & Affiliations

    N. Banerjee1, A. Aziz1, M. Ali2, J. W. A. Robinson1, B. J. Hickey2, and M. G. Blamire1

    • 1Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, University of Cambridge, Pembroke Street, Cambridge CB2 3QZ, United Kingdom
    • 2School of Physics and Astronomy, University of Leeds, Leeds LS2 9JT, United Kingdom

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    Issue

    Vol. 82, Iss. 22 — 1 December 2010

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