Controlling the Nonequilibrium Interlayer Exchange Coupling in Asymmetric Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

Y.-H. Tang, Nicholas Kioussis, Alan Kalitsov, W. H. Butler, and Roberto Car
Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 057206 – Published 31 July 2009

Abstract

We predict an oscillatory bias behavior of the fieldlike spin torque, T, in magnetic tunnel junctions, which can be selectively controlled via the asymmetry in band filling between the ferromagnetic leads. This can lead to a linear or quadratic low-bias behavior, including tuning the bias-induced reversal of T. These findings reconcile the apparently contradictory experimental results recently reported in the literature. The underlying mechanism for the nonequilibrium interlayer exchange coupling (IEC) of noncollinear configurations is the interplay of four independent IEC for the majority- and minority-spin bands of the leads solely in the ferromagnetic configuration.

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  • Received 7 April 2009

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.103.057206

©2009 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Y.-H. Tang1, Nicholas Kioussis1, Alan Kalitsov1, W. H. Butler2, and Roberto Car3

  • 1Department of Physics, California State University, Northridge, California 91330-8268, USA
  • 2MINT Center, University of Alabama, P. O. Box 870209, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, USA
  • 3Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey 08544-0001, USA

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Vol. 103, Iss. 5 — 31 July 2009

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