Current-induced torques in magnetic metals: Beyond spin-transfer

Current-induced torques (CITs) on ferromagnetic (FM) nanoparticles and on domain walls in FM nanowires are normally understood in terms of transfer of conserved spin angular momentum between spin-polarized currents and the magnetic condensate. In a series of recent articles, we have discussed a microscopic picture of CITs in which they are viewed as following from exchange fields produced by the misaligned spins of current carrying quasiparticles. This picture has the advantage that it can be applied to systems in which spin is not approximately conserved. More importantly, this point of view makes it clear that CITs can also act on the order parameter of an antiferromagnetic (AFM) metal, even though this quantity is not related to total spin. In this informal and intentionally provocative review we explain this picture and discuss its application to antiferromagnets.     

Current-induced domain wall motion with adiabatic and nonadiabatic spin torques in magnetic nanowires

We investigate current-driven domain wall (DW) propagation in magnetic nanowires in the framework of the modified Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation with both adiabatic and nonadiabatic spin torque (AST and NAST) terms. By employing a simple analytical model, we can demonstrate the essential physics that any small current density can drive the DW motion along a uniaxial anisotropy nanowire even in absence of NAST, while a critical current density threshold is required due to intrinsic anisotropy pinning in a biaxial nanowire without NAST. The DW motion along the uniaxial wire corresponds to the asymptotical DW oscillation solution under high field/current in the biaxial wire case. The current-driven DW velocity weakly depends on the NAST parameter β in a uniaxial wire and it is similar to the β = α case (α: damping) in the biaxial wire. Apart from that, we discuss the rigid DW motion from both the energy and angular momentum viewpoints and point out some physical relations in between. We also propose an experimental scheme to measure the spin current polarization by combining both field- and current-driven DW motion in a usual flat (biaxial) nanowire.     

Low-temperature mobility due to unscreened charged impurities in compensated semiconductors

It is proved that within the Fujita theory, the low-temperature values of mobility of charged carriers in compensated semiconductors due to scattering on charged unscreened impurities result temperature independent. The value of is determined by material parameters including the correlations in space among impurities but it is completely independent of the concentration of the charged impurities.     

Low-temperature mobility due to unscreened charged impurities in compensated semiconductors

For the problem of electron scattering on charged unscreened impurities, the scattering rate is calculated self-consistently. The resulting low-temperature mobility is only, slightly temperature dependent and differs from an analogous result of Fujita et al. (J. Phys. Chem. Sol.37 (1976), 227) and Zubarev et al. (Sol. State Commun.21 (1977), 565) by just a change of a numerical constant.     

Current-induced domain wall motion

The present understanding of domain wall motion induced by spin-polarized electric current is assessed by considering a subset of experiments, analytical models, and numerical simulations based on an important model system: soft magnetic nanowires. Examination of this work demonstrates notable progress in characterizing the experimental manifestations of the “spin-torque” interaction, and in describing that interaction at a phenomenological level. At the same time, an experimentally verified microscopic understanding of the basic mechanisms will require substantial future efforts, both experimental and theoretical.     

Current-induced pseudospin polarization in silicene

The pseudospin polarization induced by an external electric field in silicene in the presence of weakly spinindependent impurities is considered theoretically in the linear response regime based on Green’s function method. We study the effects of the interplay between the sublattice potential and the intrinsic spin orbit coupling on the pseudospin polarization. We show that the pseudospin polarization perpendicular to the electric field is independent of the impurity parameter, while the pseudospin polarization in the direction of the electric field is sensitive to the impurity parameter. The dependences of the pseudospin polarizations on the chemical potential are studied.     

Approximation to the susceptibilities of two-dimensional antiferromagnets

Approximate susceptibilities of square-plane S = ∞ XY and $\text{S =}\text{1}\text{2}$ Ising antiferromagnets are calculated by using the new expansion method reported previously for the case of a square-plane S = ∞ Heisenberg antiferromagnet. The convergence of the new expansion is examined and it is shown that the present method gives a good approximation to the susceptibilities of all of the Heisenberg, XY and Ising antiferromagnets even below the temperature range where the result exhibits a pronounced broad maximum.     

Spin transfer torques

This tutorial article introduces the physics of spin transfer torques in magnetic devices. Our intention is that it be accessible to beginning graduate students. We provide an elementary discussion of the mechanism of spin transfer torque and review the theoretical and experimental progress in this field. This article is meant to set the stage for the articles which follow in this volume of the Journal of Magnetism and Magnetic Materials, which focus in more depth on particularly interesting aspects of spin-torque physics and highlight unanswered questions that might be productive topics for future research.     

Approximation to the susceptibilities of three-dimensional antiferromagnets

Approximate susceptibilities of simple cubic S=∞ Heisenberg and $\text{S=}\text{1}\text{2}$ Ising antiferromagnets are calculated by using the new expansion method reported previously for the case of a square-plane S=∞ Heisenberg antiferromagnet. The present method gives a good approximation to the susceptibilities of both of the Heisenberg and Ising antiferromagnets above the Néel temperature.     

Current-induced domain formation in magnetic junctions

A junction between two ferromagnetic metal layers with fixed spins in one of them and free spins in the other (spin valve) is considered. The junction is placed in an external magnetic field that orients the free layer oppositely to the fixed layer. It is shown that the spin-polarized electron flow from the fixed layer to the free layer gives rise to stable motionless magnetic domains in the free layer, provided that the magnetic field and the thickness of the free layer are large enough.     

Current-induced magnetic resonance phase imaging

Electric current-induced phase alternations have been imaged by fast magnetic resonance image (MRI) technology. We measured the magnetic resonance phase images induced by pulsed current stimulation from a phantom and detected its sensitivity. The pulsed current-induced phase image demonstrated the feasibility to detect phase changes of the proton magnetic resonance signal that could mimic neuronal firing. At the present experimental setting, a magnetic field strength change of 1.7 +/- 0.3 nT can be detected. We also calculated the averaged value of the magnetic flux density BT parallel to B0 produced by electric current I inside the voxel as a function of the wire position. The results of the calculation were consistent with our observation that for the same experimental setting the current-induced phase change could vary with location of the wire inside the voxel. We discuss our findings in terms of possible direct MRI detection of neuronal activity.     

Current-induced embrittlement of atomic wires

Recent experiments suggest that gold single-atom contacts and atomic chains break at applied voltages of 1 to 2 V. In order to understand why current flow affects these defect-free conductors, we have calculated the current-induced forces on atoms in a Au chain between two Au electrodes. These forces are not by themselves sufficient to rupture the chain. However, the current reduces the work to break the chain, which results in a dramatic increase in the probability of thermally activated spontaneous fracture of the chain. This current-induced embrittlement poses a fundamental limit to the current-carrying capacity of atomic wires.     

Current-induced spin polarization in strained semiconductors

The polarization of conduction electron spins due to an electrical current is observed in strained nonmagnetic semiconductors using static and time-resolved Faraday rotation. The density, lifetime, and orientation rate of the electrically polarized spins are characterized by a combination of optical and electrical methods. In addition, the dynamics of the current-induced spins are investigated by utilizing electrical pulses generated from a photoconductive switch. These results demonstrate the possibility of a spin source for semiconductor spintronic devices without the use of magnetic materials.     

Current-induced nanomagnet dynamics for magnetic fields perpendicular to the sample plane

We present electrical measurements of high-frequency magnetic dynamics excited by spin-polarized currents in Co/Cu/Ni(80)Fe20 nanopillar devices, with a magnetic field applied perpendicular to the sample layers. As a function of current and magnetic field, the dynamical phase diagram contains several distinguishable precessional modes and also static magnetic states. Using detailed comparisons with numerical simulations, we provide rigorous tests of the theory of spin-transfer torques.     

Magneto-optics of antiferromagnets

Antiferromagnetic crystals in which crystallographic sites occupied by magnetic ions from various sublattices are not transnationally equivalent and are not associated with each other by a symmetry center can have magneto-optic properties distinct from the properties of other antiferromagnets. In particular, birefringence and dichroism of linear polarized light can be observed which are directly proportional to the magnetic field strength, as well as magnetic rotation and circular dichroism quadratic in the field strength. Both effect—the linear magneto-optic effect and quadratic magnetic gyration — are sensitive to the crystal magnetic symmetry and to reorientation of the antiferromagnetic vector. Both effects reverse their signs when the directions of the magnetic moments of a sublattice are changed. These properties of new magneto-optic effects can be used to study the time-reversed domain structure of antiferromagnets, to define the symmetry of magnetic ordering and to study the magnetic crystal energy spectra by spectroscopic methods. The results of experimental studies of the linear magneto-optic effect and quadratic magnetic rotation in tetragonal antiferromagnetic fluorides of transition metals, manganese-germanium garnet and other antiferromagnets are reported. Experimental results on the domain structure of high symmetric antiferromagnets, the point magnetic symmetry of non-collinear multisublattice antiferromagnetic garnet MnGeG are discussed.     

Superconductivity in antiferromagnets

In a perfect spin up spin down antiferromagnet new B.C.S. electronpairs are being described, which are coupled by only a slightly decreased effective interaction. A repulsive interaction is added by virtual spin wave excitation. Depending on the relative strength, superconductivity may exist in such an antiferromagnet.     

自旋阀中电流诱导磁化翻转行为的研究

通过实验研究了一种特殊的反对称自旋阀结构．研究发现,随着外加磁场的增大,该结构纳米器件表现出了一种由“逆CIMS”向“正常CIMS”的转变．这种现象是因为：该反对称自旋阀在不同的外加磁场下有不同的磁化取向,因而引起不同的CIMS行为． 关键词： CPP ESPV CIMS     

Current-induced conformational switching in single-molecule junctions

Current-induced conformational switching in single-molecule junctions constitutes a fundamental process in molecular electronics. Motivated by recent experiments on azobenzene derivatives, we study this process for molecules which exhibit two (meta)stable conformations in the neutral state but only a single stable conformation in the ionic state. We derive and analyze appropriate Fokker–Planck equations obtained from a density-matrix formalism starting from a generic model and present comprehensive analytical and numerical results for the switching dynamics in general and the quantum yield in particular.