Effect of Polarized Current on the Magnetic State of Antiferromagnet

TL;DR

This paper investigates how spin-polarized currents influence the magnetic state of nanofabricated antiferromagnets within spin-valve structures, revealing current-induced effects and their underlying mechanisms.

Contribution

It provides experimental evidence and explanation for current-induced magnetic effects in antiferromagnets, highlighting spin torque and electron-magnon scattering as key factors.

Findings

Bipolar steps in differential resistance observed

Current-induced changes in exchange bias detected

Deviations from thermally activated switching statistics

Abstract

We provide evidence for the effects of spin polarized current on a nanofabricated antiferromagnet incorporated into a spin-valve structure. Signatures of current-induced effects include bipolar steps in differential resistance, current-induced changes of exchange bias correlated with these steps, and deviations from the statistics expected for thermally activated switching of spin valves. We explain our observations by a combination of spin torque exerted on the interfacial antiferromagnetic moments, and electron-magnon scattering in antiferromagnet.