Voltage generation by ferromagnetic resonance at a nonmagnet to ferromagnet contact

A ferromagnet can resonantly absorb rf radiation to sustain a steady precession of the magnetization around an internal or applied magnetic field. We show that, under these ferromagnetic resonance conditions, a dc voltage is generated at a normal-metal electric contact to a ferromagnet with spin-flip scattering. The spin dynamics in the nonmagnetic region is accounted for by a frequency-dependent renormalization of the interface conductances. This mechanism allows sensing of time-dependent magnetizations by established dc electronic techniques.     

Interfacial spin interactions of ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic manganite bilayers

A pulsed laser deposition technique was used to grow ferromagnetic La_0.7Sr_0.3MnO₃ (LSMO) films on antiferromagnetic La_0.33Ca_0.67MnO₃ (LCMO) and Pr_0.7Ca_0.3MnO₃ (PCMO) films in bilayer forms. The LSMO film on the PCMO layer had a more elongated out-of-plane lattice than that on the LCMO layer. The former had a lower ferromagnetic transition temperature (320 K) than the latter (350 K). The enhanced low-temperature magnetoresistance of the LSMO/PCMO bilayer suggests that the spin frustration is stronger at this bilayer than in the LSMO/LCMO bilayer. These differences indicate that strain state and defect concentration play important roles in governing interfacial spin interactions.     

TUNNEL MAGNETORESISTANCE IN THE FERROMAGNETIC TUNNEL JUNCTION WITH FERROMAGNETIC LAYERS OF FINITE THICKNESS SUBJECTED TO AN ELECTRIC FIELD

Based on the two-band model, we investigate the tunnel magnetoresistance(TMR) in ferromagnet/insulator (semiconductor)/ferromagnet(FM/I(S)/FM) tunnel junction covered on both sides by nonmagnetic metal layers subjected to an electric field. Our results show that TMR oscillates with the thickness of ferromagnetic layers owing to the quantum-size effect and can reach very large value under suitable conditions, which may in general not be reached in FM/I(S)/FM with infinitely thick ferromagnetic layer. Although the electric field causes the change of the oscillation period, phase and amplitude of the TMR, a large TMR is still obtained in some situations with the electric field. Furthermore, the electric field does not change the feature that TMR varies monotonously with the change of magnetization angle of the middle ferromagnetic layer.     

Efficiency of injection of charge carriers with a definite spin into a ferromagnet

The efficiency of injection of charge carriers with a definite spin into a ferromagnetic material in the ferromagnet/nonmagnetic metal/ferromagnet three-layer structure is analyzed taking into account the contribution from the nonmagnetic layer. It is shown that in the Co/Cu/Fe structure, the efficiency of spin injection is several times higher than in the Co/Cu/Co symmetric structure. Optimal conditions of injection of charge carriers with a definite spin depending on the parameters of used material are established.     

Optical detection of spin transport in nonmagnetic metals

We determine the dynamic magnetization induced in nonmagnetic metal wedges composed of silver, copper, and platinum by means of Brillouin light scattering microscopy. The magnetization is transferred from a ferromagnetic Ni80Fe20 layer to the metal wedge via the spin pumping effect. The spin pumping efficiency can be controlled by adding an insulating interlayer between the magnetic and nonmagnetic layer. By comparing the experimental results to a dynamical macroscopic spin-transport model we determine the transverse relaxation time of the pumped spin current which is much smaller than the longitudinal relaxation time.     

Spontaneous Josephson spin current in triplet superconductor/ferromagnet/triplet superconductor junctions

This paper theoretically studies Josephson spin current through triplet superconductor/ferromagnet/triplet superconductor junctions. At the ferromagnet/superconductor interfaces, the ferromagnetic scattering potential gives rise to coupling between the Andreev bound states and lifts their spin degeneracy. These spin-split Andreev states carry the Josephson spin current through the junctions. The generated spin supercurrent can be controlled by the magnetization of a ferromagnetic thin layer and bias voltage across the junctions.     

Possible Evidence for Spin-Transfer Torque Induced by Spin-Triplet Supercurrents

The mutual interplay between superconductivity and magnetism in superconductor/ferromagnet heterostructures may give rise to unusual proximity effects beyond current knowledge. Especially, spin-triplet Cooper pairs could be created at carefully engineered superconductor/ferromagnet interfaces. Here we report a giant proximity effect on spin dynamics in superconductor/ferromagnet/superconductor Josephson junctions. Below the superconducting transition temperature T_C, the ferromagnetic resonance field at X-band(~9.0 GHz) shifts rapidly to a lower field with decreasing temperature. In strong contrast, this phenomenon is absent in ferromagnet/superconductor bilayers and superconductor/insulator/ferromagnet/superconductor multilayers. Such an intriguing phenomenon can not be interpreted by the conventional Meissner effect. Instead, we propose that the strong influence on spin dynamics could be due to spin-transfer torque associated with spin-triplet supercurrents in ferromagnetic Josephson junctions with precessing magnetization.     

BaTiO_3/La_(0.67)Sr_(0.33)MnO_(3-δ)复合薄膜的磁致电极化和磁介电特性研究

采用脉冲激光沉积法制备了BaTiO_3(BTO)与缺氧的铁磁绝缘态La_(0.67)Sr_(0.33)MnO_(3-δ)(LSMO)构成的磁电复合薄膜,研究了20—300K温度区间内磁场对电极化特性和介电特性的影响.研究发现,施加磁场使得电滞回线的剩余极化强度和矫顽场均增大,其变化率峰值分别为111.9%和89.6%,峰值温度分别为40K和60K.异质结具有显著的磁介电效应,在测量温度区间内,磁场使得介电常数增大,介电损耗减小.在0.8T场强下,介电常数的最大磁致变化率出现在60K,达到了300%,而介电损耗也在此温度实现了最大变化,减小为零场时的50.9%.该磁电复合薄膜的磁致电极化和磁介电特性的极值均出现在LSMO层的磁电阻峰值温度附近,这说明磁场对电滞回线和介电参数的调制应该源自电荷相关的耦合作用.其可能的机理是磁场使得锰氧化物中的Mn离子局域磁矩趋于有序排列,并通过自旋-轨道耦合以及界面效应间接影响了BTO的电极化特性.研究结果对于多铁器件的开发和应用具有重要意义.     

Spin-flip torsion balance

The spin flip of the conduction electrons at the interface of a ferromagnetic and a nonmagnetic part of a metallic wire, suspended between two electrodes, is shown to tort the wire when a current is driven through it. In order to enhance the effect it is suggested to use an alternating current in resonance with the torsional oscillations. Thereby the magnetic polarization of the conduction electrons in the ferromagnet can be measured directly, and compared to the total magnetization. This may yield new information on the transport properties of the narrow band electrons in itinerant ferromagnets.     

Magnetoelectronic spin echo

We predict a spin echo in electron transport through layered ferromagnetic-normal-ferromagnetic metal structures: whereas a spin current polarized perpendicular to the magnetization direction decays when traversing a single homogeneous ferromagnet on the scale of the ferromagnetic spin-coherence length, it partially reappears by adding a second identical but antiparallel ferromagnet. This reentrant transverse spin current resembles the spin-echo effect in the magnetization of nuclei under pulsed excitations. We propose an experimental setup to measure the spin echo.     

Magnetic proximity effects in antiferromagnet/ferromagnet bilayers: the impact on the Néel temperature

We present a study of the ordering temperature of an ultrathin antiferromagnetic film in the proximity of a ferromagnetic layer. The Néel temperature of a single-crystalline antiferromagnetic FexMn1-x film on Cu(001) in contact with a ferromagnetic Ni layer was monitored by the discontinuity in the coercivity as a function of temperature by magneto-optical Kerr effect measurements. It decreases by up to 60 K if the magnetization axis of the ferromagnet is switched from out of plane to in plane by deposition of a Co overlayer. These results give clear evidence for a magnetic proximity effect in which the ferromagnetic layer substantially influences the ordering temperature of the antiferromagnetic layer.     

Electrical detection of spin pumping due to the precessing magnetization of a single ferromagnet

We report direct electrical detection of spin pumping, using a lateral normal-metal/ferromagnet/normal-metal device, where a single ferromagnet in ferromagnetic resonance pumps spin-polarized electrons into the normal metal, resulting in spin accumulation. The resulting backflow of spin current into the ferromagnet generates a dc voltage due to the spin-dependent conductivities of the ferromagnet. By comparing different contact materials (Al and/or Pt), we find, in agreement with theory, that the spin-related properties of the normal metal dictate the magnitude of the dc voltage.     

Perspectives of electrically generated spin currents in ferromagnetic materials

Spin-orbit coupling enables charge currents to give rise to spin currents and vice versa, which has applications in non-volatile magnetic memories, miniature microwave oscillators, thermoelectric converters and Terahertz devices. In the past two decades, a considerable amount of research has focused on electrical spin current generation in different types of nonmagnetic materials. However, electrical spin current generation in ferromagnetic materials has only recently been actively investigated. Due to the additional symmetry breaking by the magnetization, ferromagnetic materials generate spin currents with different orientations of spin direction from those observed in nonmagnetic materials. Studies centered on ferromagnets where spin-orbit coupling plays an important role in transport open new possibilities to generate and detect spin currents. We summarize recent developments on this subject and discuss unanswered questions in this emerging field.     

Ferromagnetic resonance in monocrystalline spin valves CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB and CoFeB films with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Orientation dependences of ferromagnetic resonance in a MgO/CoFeB/MgO/Ta film with one ferromagnetic layer (monolayer) and in a MgO/CoFeB/Ta/CoFeB/MgO/Ta spin valve containing two single-crystal ferromagnetic CoFeB layers divided by a nonmagnetic Ta layer (bilayer) were investigated. Analysis of the orientation dependences of the structures with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy allowed calculating constants of magnetic anisotropy and damping factors. Physical reasons underlying the differences between these parameters in one- and two-layered structures are discussed.     

Tunnel barrier enhanced voltage signal generated by magnetization precession of a single ferromagnetic layer

We report the electrical detection of magnetization dynamics in an Al/AlOx/Ni80Fe20/Cu tunnel junction, where a Ni80Fe20 ferromagnetic layer is brought into precession under ferromagnetic resonance conditions. The dc voltage generated across the junction by the precessing ferromagnet is enhanced about an order of magnitude compared to the voltage signal observed when the contacts in this type of multilayered structure are Ohmic. We discuss the relation of this phenomenon to magnetic spin pumping and speculate on other possible underlying mechanisms responsible for the enhanced electrical signal.     

Spin caloritronics and the thermomagnetoelectric system

The methods of nonequilibrium thermodynamics are applied to study the transport of charge, heat and nonequilibrium spin magnetization in a discrete system comprised of a ferromagnetic metal making interfacial contact with a nonmagnetic metal. A thermomagnetic effect relating spin accumulation to an interfacial difference of temperature is described. Temperature gradients related to spin relaxation are discussed. Some recent experimental results are reviewed using the framework provided by the thermomagnetoelectric system.     

Impurity resistance in ferromagnetic metals

We studied the electrical resistivity of the ferromagnetic metal due to nonmagnetic impurities by considering the different densities of states at the Fermi surface and the different screened potentials for ± spin electrons. Contrary to Nieminen's result which shows that the electrical resistivity decreases when the magnetization increases, we find that the electric resistivity increases monotonically with increasing magnetization. We also do not find the resistivity minimum predicted by Kim and Schwartz.     

Influence of a metallic substrate’s magnetic state on the huge magnetoresistance of a ferromagnet-polymer structure

The association between the threshold value of conductance switching in an external magnetic field and the initial magnetic state of a ferromagnetic plate substrate is shown for a ferromagnet/polymer/nonmagnetic metal system. The threshold magnetic field change is explained by appearance of residual magnetization after being held in an external magnetic field and, correspondingly, by the change in the initial state upon further remagnetization.     

Spin-torque shot noise in magnetic tunnel junctions

A spin polarized current may transfer angular momentum to a ferromagnet, resulting in a spin-torque phenomenon. At the same time the shot noise, associated with the current, leads to a nonequilibrium stochastic force acting on the ferromagnet. We derive a stochastic version of the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation for a magnetization of a "free" ferromagnetic layer in contact with a "fixed" ferromagnet. We solve the corresponding Fokker-Planck equation and show that the nonequilibrium noise yields to a nonmonotonic dependence of the precession spectrum linewidth on the current.