Thermal spin-transfer torque in magnetic tunnel junctions

Abstract

The thermal spin-transfer torque (TSTT) is an effect to switch the magnetic free layer in a magnetic tunnel junction by a temperature gradient only. We present ab initio calculations of the TSTT. In particular, we discuss the influence of magnetic layer composition by considering ${\text{Fe}}_{\text{x}}{\text{Co}}_{\text{1-x}}$ alloys. Further, we compare the TSTT to the bias voltage driven STT and discuss the requirements for a possible thermal switching. For example, only for very thin barriers of 3 monolayers MgO a thermal switching is imaginable. However, even for such a thin barrier the TSTT is still too small for switching at the moment and further optimization is needed. In particular, the TSTT strongly depends on the composition of the ferromagentic layer. In our current study it turns out that at the chosen thickness of the ferromagnetic layer pure Fe gives the highest thermal spin-transfer torque.

6 pages, 6 figures

References in corpus (12)

• Spin Transfer Torques
• Theory of magnon-driven spin Seebeck effect
• Anomalous Bias Dependence of Spin Torque in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
• Thermoelectric Effects in Magnetic Nanostructures
• Ab initio studies of the spin-transfer torque in tunnel junctions
• Spin caloritronics in magnetic tunnel junctions: Ab initio studies
• Spin-transfer torque in magnetic tunnel junctions: Scattering theory
• 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
• Parameter space for thermal spin-transfer torque
• Ab initio studies of the tunneling magneto-Seebeck effect: influence of magnetic material
• Influence of the magnetic material on tunneling magnetoresistance and spin-transfer torque in tunnel junctions: Ab initio studies

Cited by in corpus (5)

• Thermal transport and non-equilibrium temperature drop across a magnetic nanostructured interface
• Thermally-driven spin torques in layered magnetic insulators
• Tunnel magneto-Seebeck effect
• Thermal Conductivity of Oxide Tunnel Barriers in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions Measured by Ultrafast Thermoreflectance and Magneto-optic Kerr Effect Thermometry
• Impact of intergrain spin transfer torques due to huge thermal gradients on the performance of heat assisted magnetic recording