Temperature dependence of spin-transfer-induced switching of nanomagnets

TL;DR

This study investigates how temperature influences spin-transfer-induced switching in nanomagnets, revealing that switching is thermally activated and primarily governed by actual sample temperature rather than an effective magnetic temperature.

Contribution

It provides detailed measurements of temperature, magnetic field, and current effects on nanomagnet switching, highlighting the linear dependence of activation barriers on current and clarifying the thermal activation mechanism.

Findings

Switching occurs between static states or a static state and precessional mode.

Switching is thermally activated and depends on actual sample temperature.

Activation barriers depend linearly on current.

Abstract

We measure the temperature, magnetic-field, and current dependence for the switching of nanomagnets by a spin-polarized current. Depending on current bias, switching can occur between either two static magnetic states or a static state and a current-driven precessional mode. In both cases, the switching is thermally activated and governed by the sample temperature, not a higher effective magnetic temperature. The activation barriers for switching between static states depend linearly on current, with a weaker dependence for dynamic to static switching.