Abstract
We report magnetoresistance, focused Kerr effect, and Lorentz microscopy experiments performed on a nanoscale Permalloy bridge connecting microscale pads. These pads can be switched from a parallel to antiparallel state through the application of small fields, causing a detectable magnetoresistance. We show that this switching field Hsw is modified by the application of a high current density (Jdc) through spin-transfer torque effects, caused by the spin-current interacting with the magnetization gradients generated by the device geometry, yielding an estimate for the spin-transfer torque efficiency ξ=dHsw/dJdc=0.027 ± 0.001 Oe/MA cm-2.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Applied Physics Letters |
| Volume | 97 |
| Issue number | 20 |
| Pages (from-to) | 202505 |
| ISSN | 0003-6951 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2010 |
| Externally published | Yes |