Dynamic and temperature effects in spin-transfer switching

Received 5 August 2008; accepted 10 October 2008; published online 10 December 2008We have studied the dynamic switching triggered by spin angular momentum transfer in a pulsedcurrent of a spin-valve-type trilayer structure, and its dependence on thermal effects. In order todetermine the current pulse parameters, where fast and stable switching can be achieved, we havestudied the magnetization’s dynamics properties as a function of applied current pulse amplitude andshape, waiting time, and initial orientation, and also as a function of the Gilbert damping constant.The magnetic layer is assumed to be single domain, ellipsoid shaped. In this paper also we presentthe thermal fluctuation effects on the switching behavior. The model is based on the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation and the stochastic Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation with a spin-transferterm included, which are numerically integrated. ©