Current-induced switching in a single exchange-biased ferromagnetic layer

Abstract

We demonstrate current-induced switching effects in a single exchanged-biased ferromagnetic layer. A nanodomain can be switched within the ferromagnetic layer by a spin-polarized current injected through a point contact. The high resistance of the hysteretic switching is due to the formation of a domain wall between the nanodomain and the rest of the layer. The switching behavior observed in a single layer is a type of spin-transfer torque effect which is the inverse effect of domain-wall magnetoresistance. At room temperature, nonhysteretic switching behavior with a broad switching current density range is observed.