Rectification of radio-frequency current in a giant-magnetoresistance spin valve

Sławomir Ziętek, Piotr Ogrodnik, Marek Frankowski, Jakub Chęciński, Piotr Wiśniowski, Witold Skowroński, Jerzy Wrona, Tomasz Stobiecki, Antoni Żywczak, and Józef Barnaś
Phys. Rev. B 91, 014430 – Published 26 January 2015

Abstract

We report on a highly efficient spin diode effect in exchange-biased spin-valve giant-magnetoresistance (GMR) strips. In such multilayer structures, the symmetry of the current distribution along the vertical direction is broken and, as a result, a noncompensated Oersted field acting on the magnetic free layer appears. This field in turn is a driving force of magnetization precessions. Due to the GMR effect, the resistance of the strip oscillates following the magnetization dynamics. This leads to rectification of the applied radio-frequency current and induces a direct-current voltage Vdc. We present a theoretical description of this phenomenon and calculate the spin diode signal Vdc as a function of frequency, external magnetic field, and angle at which the external field is applied. Satisfactory quantitative agreement between theoretical predictions and experimental data has been achieved. Finally, we show that the spin diode signal in GMR devices is significantly stronger than in the anisotropic magnetoresistance permalloy-based devices.

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  • Received 27 October 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.91.014430

©2015 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Sławomir Ziętek1,*, Piotr Ogrodnik1,2,†, Marek Frankowski1,‡, Jakub Chęciński1,3, Piotr Wiśniowski1, Witold Skowroński1, Jerzy Wrona1,4, Tomasz Stobiecki1, Antoni Żywczak5, and Józef Barnaś6,7

  • 1Department of Electronics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Aleja Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
  • 2Faculty of Physics, Warsaw University of Technology, Ulica Koszykowa 75, 00-662 Warszawa, Poland
  • 3Faculty of Physics and Applied Computer Science, AGH University of Science and Technology, Aleja Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
  • 4Singulus Technologies, 63796 Kahl am Main, Germany
  • 5Academic Centre of Materials and Nanotechnology, AGH University of Science and Technology, Aleja Mickiewicza 30, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
  • 6Faculty of Physics, Adam Mickiewicz University, Ulica Umultowska 85, 61-614 Poznań, Poland
  • 7Institute of Molecular Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, Ulica Smoluchowskiego 17, 60-179 Poznań, Poland

  • *zietek@agh.edu.pl
  • piotrogr@if.pw.edu.pl
  • mfrankow@agh.edu.pl

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Vol. 91, Iss. 1 — 1 January 2015

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