Influence of Quantum and Thermal Noise on Spin-Torque-Driven Magnetization Switching

TL;DR

This paper investigates how quantum and thermal noise influence magnetization switching in spin-torque devices, revealing significant fluctuations and temperature dependence, with predictions applicable to single-shot experiments.

Contribution

It introduces a quantum theory of spin transfer torque to analyze quantum noise effects on magnetization switching, incorporating thermal noise and modeling temperature dependence.

Findings

Quantum noise causes large fluctuations in switching time at zero temperature.

Thermal noise affects the expectation value and variability of switching times.

Results are fitted to an effective first passage model and are observable in experiments.

Abstract

We apply a recently developed quantum theory of spin transfer torque to study the effect of the quantum noise in spin transfer process on the magnetization switching in spin-torque-driven devices. The quantum noise induces considerable fluctuation of the switching time at zero temperature. By including the thermal noise, the temperature dependence of the expectation value and standard deviation of the switching time are obtained in the Monte Carlo simulations, and the results are fitted to an effective first passage model. We expect that the predictions here are observable in the single-shot measurement experiments.