Spin Transfer Torque in Fully Insulating Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

TL;DR

This paper theoretically investigates voltage-driven spin transfer torque in magnetic tunnel junctions with insulating electrodes, revealing unconventional bias dependencies and potential for experimental observation due to low damping in magnetic insulators.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical analysis of spin transfer torque in fully insulating magnetic tunnel junctions, highlighting unique bias behaviors and dominance of out-of-plane torque.

Findings

Out-of-plane torque generally dominates the in-plane torque.

Torque exhibits symmetric and asymmetric bias dependencies at low voltages.

Both torques are significantly enhanced at high bias voltages.

Abstract

Voltage-driven spin transfer torque in a magnetic tunnel junction comprising magnetic insulating electrodes is studied theoretically. In contrast with the conventional magnetic tunnel junctions comprising transition metal ferromagnets, the spin transfer torque presents unconventional bias dependencies, related to the presence of spin-dependent Fowler-Nordheim tunneling processes. In particular, we find that (i) the out-of-plane torque generally dominates the in-plane torque, (ii) out-of-plane torque and in-plane torque are symmetric and asymmetric at low bias voltage, respectively, and (iii) both of torques show a dramatic enhancement at large bias voltage. Materials consideration are discussed and we show that due to the low damping parameter expected in magnetic insulators a spin transfer torque can be experimentally observed in such systems.