Landauer theory of ballistic torkances in non-collinear spin valves

Abstract

We present a theory of voltage-induced spin-transfer torques in ballistic non-collinear spin valves. The torkance on one ferromagnetic layer is expressed in terms of scattering coefficients of the whole spin valve, in analogy to the Landauer conductance formula. The theory is applied to Co/Cu/Ni(001)-based systems where long-range oscillations of the Ni-torkance as a function of Ni thickness are predicted. The oscillations represent a novel quantum size effect due to the non-collinear magnetic structure. The oscillatory behavior of the torkance contrasts a thickness-independent trend of the conductance.

Version 3: 6 pages, 3 figures. Corrected version that passed the peer-review process

References in corpus (8)

• Spin Transfer Torques
• Non-collinear Magnetoelectronics
• Anomalous Bias Dependence of Spin Torque in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
• Dictionary between scattering matrix and Keldysh formalisms for quantum transport driven by time-periodic fields
• Ab initio studies of the spin-transfer torque in tunnel junctions
• Spin-transfer torques in anti-ferromagnetic metals from first principles
• Current Induced Order Parameter Dynamics: Microscopic Theory Applied to Co/Cu/Co spin valves
• Implementation of a non-equilibrium Green's function method to calculate spin transfer torque

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Tunnelling anisotropic magnetoresistance of Fe/GaAs/Ag(001) junctions from first principles: Effect of hybridized interface resonances