Precession frequency and fast switching dependence on the in-plane and out-of-plane dual spin-torque polarizers

Abstract

Steady magnetization precession can be excited by a DC spin-polarized current in a spin-valve with combined in-plane (IP) and out-of-plane (OP) dual polarizers. The precession frequency is proportional to the strength of spin-torque generated by the OP polarizer but less sensitive to the IP polarizer, which can be successfully interpreted by an analytic model. A single current pulse with its duration as short as 150 ps is able to drive the magnetization switching. The switching probability is dominated by the value of the free layer angle φc at which the free layer magnetization rotation transforms to a damped small angle precession after stopping the current pulse.