Correlation of the angular dependence of spin-transfer torque and giant magnetoresistance in the limit of diffusive transport in spin valves

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates how the angular dependence of giant magnetoresistance and spin-transfer torque are correlated in diffusive metallic spin valves, revealing non-standard behaviors such as torque vanishing in non-collinear configurations.

Contribution

It uncovers the relationship between spin-transfer torque and giant magnetoresistance angular dependence in asymmetric spin valves under diffusive transport, highlighting non-monotonic behaviors.

Findings

Spin-transfer torque can vanish in non-collinear configurations.

Giant magnetoresistance exhibits a non-monotonic angular dependence.

Non-standard torque behavior is linked to a global minimum in GMR at non-collinear angles.

Abstract

Angular variation of giant magnetoresistance and spin-transfer torque in metallic spin-valve heterostructures is analyzed theoretically in the limit of diffusive transport. It is shown that the spin-transfer torque in asymmetric spin valves can vanish in non-collinear magnetic configurations, and such a non-standard behavior of the torque is generally associated with a non-monotonic angular dependence of the giant magnetoresistance, with a global minimum at a non-collinear magnetic configuration.