Effect of antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling on current-assisted magnetization switching

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Urazhdin S., Kurt H., Pratt W., Bass J.

APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS, vol.83, no.1, pp.114-116, 2003 (Peer-Reviewed Journal) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 83 Issue: 1
  • Publication Date: 2003
  • Doi Number: 10.1063/1.1592311
  • Journal Name: APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded, Scopus
  • Page Numbers: pp.114-116

Abstract

We compare magnetization switching in Co/Cu/Co nanopillars with uncoupled and dipole-field coupled Co layers. In uncoupled nanopillars, current-driven switching is hysteretic at low magnetic field H and changes to reversible, characterized by telegraph noise, at high H. We show that dipolar coupling both affects the switching current and causes the switching to become reversible at small H. The coupling thus changes the switching to reversible, hysteretic, and then reversible again as H increases. We describe our results in terms of current-assisted thermal activation. (C) 2003 American Institute of Physics.