Temperature Dependence of Current-Induced Magnetization Switching in Spin Valves with a Ferrimagnetic CoGd Free Layer

Xin Jiang, Li Gao, Jonathan Z. Sun, and Stuart S. P. Parkin
Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 217202 – Published 20 November 2006

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 (TMC) 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 TMC, 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.

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  • Received 12 June 2006

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.97.217202

©2006 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Xin Jiang1, Li Gao1,2, Jonathan Z. Sun3, and Stuart S. P. Parkin1

  • 1IBM Almaden Research Center, San Jose, California 95120, USA
  • 2Department of Applied Physics, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
  • 3IBM T. J. Watson Research Center, Yorktown Heights, New York 10598, USA

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Issue

Vol. 97, Iss. 21 — 24 November 2006

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