Reduced model for precessional switching of thin-film nanomagnets under the influence of spin torque

Ross G. Lund, Gabriel D. Chaves-O'Flynn, Andrew D. Kent, Cyrill B. Muratov

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Abstract

We study the magnetization dynamics of thin-film magnetic elements with in-plane magnetization subject to a spin current flowing perpendicular to the film plane. We derive a reduced partial differential equation for the in-plane magnetization angle in a weakly damped regime. We then apply this model to study the experimentally relevant problem of switching of an elliptical element when the spin polarization has a component perpendicular to the film plane, restricting the reduced model to a macrospin approximation. The macrospin ordinary differential equation is treated analytically as a weakly damped Hamiltonian system, and an orbit-averaging method is used to understand transitions in solution behaviors in terms of a discrete dynamical system. The predictions of our reduced model are compared to those of the full Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert-Slonczewski equation for a macrospin.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number144425
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume94
Issue number14
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 20 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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