Abstract
The temperature dependence of current-induced magnetization switching of ferrimagnetic CoGd free layers in spin valves is explored. At temperatures well above and well below the magnetization compensation temperature () of CoGd, a current flowing from the free layer to the CoFe fixed layer aligns the moments of the two layers parallel, and a current flowing in the opposite direction aligns them antiparallel. However, for intermediate temperatures just above , the current-induced alignment of the moments is reversed. We attribute this effect to the different compensation temperatures of the net magnetization and angular momentum of CoGd.
- Received 12 June 2006
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.217202
©2006 American Physical Society