Micromagnetic study of a spin-torque oscillator based on a magnetic nano-contact magnetized at an arbitrary angle

TL;DR

This paper uses micromagnetic simulations to investigate how spin wave modes in a magnetic nanocontact spin-torque oscillator change with the angle of an external magnetic field, revealing mode switching behavior and frequency jumps.

Contribution

It provides new insights into mode switching phenomena in spin-torque oscillators with arbitrary magnetic field angles through combined simulation and analytical comparison.

Findings

Abrupt switching from localized to propagating mode at a critical angle

Frequency jump associated with mode switching

Frequency jump magnitude inversely proportional to nanocontact radius

Abstract

The nature of spin wave modes excited by spin-polarized direct current in a spin-torque auto-oscillator based on a magnetic nanocontact was studied by a micromagnetic simulation in the case when the external bias magnetic field was rotated from the in-plane to perpendicular-to-plane orientation. In qualitative agreement with the weakly-nonlinear analytical theory it was found, that at a certain critical angle, an abrupt switching from the self-localized nonlinear "bullet" mode to a propagating quasi-linear Slonczewski mode takes place, and is accompanied by an upward jump in generated microwave frequency. It was, also, found that the analytical theory overestimates the magnitude of a critical magnetization angle, corresponding to the mode switching, and that the magnitude of the frequency jump caused by the mode switching is inversely proportional to the nanocontact radius.