Quantum Scattering Theory of Spin Transfer Torque, Spin Pumping and Fluctuations

Abstract

Spin transfer torque and spin pumping are central reciprocal phenomena in spintronics. These phenomena occur in hybrid systems of normal metals and magnets. Spin transfer is the conversion of spin currents in metals to a torque on the magnetization of magnets. Spin pumping is the emission of spin currents from precessing magnets. Here, we demonstrate a general way to understand these effects within a quantum out-of-equilibrium path-integral model. Our results agree with known expressions for spin transfer and spin pumping in terms of transverse (mixing) conductances when there are no fluctuations. However, at a finite temperature, frequency or spin accumulation, the magnet also experiences fluctuating torques. In the classical regime, when the thermal energy is larger than the bias voltage and precession frequency, we reproduce the classical Brownian-Langevin forces associated with spin transfer and spin pumping. At low temperatures, in the quantum regime, we demonstrate that magnetization fluctuations differ in the elastic and inelastic electron transport regimes. Furthermore, we show how additional transport coefficients beyond the mixing conductance govern the fluctuations. Some of these coefficients are related to electron shot noise because of the discrete spin angular momentum of electrons. We estimate the fluctuation coefficients of clean, tunnel, and disordered junctions and in the case of an insulating magnet. Our results open a path for exploring low-temperature magnetization dynamics and spin caloritronics.

22 pages, 1 figure

References in corpus (12)

• Spin Transfer Torques
• Theory of magnon-driven spin Seebeck effect
• Spin pumping and spin-transfer torques in antiferromagnets
• Non-collinear Magnetoelectronics
• Subterahertz spin pumping from an insulating antiferromagnet
• Spin-orbit torques in heavy metal/ferromagnet bilayers with varying strength of interfacial spin-orbit coupling
• Functional Keldysh Theory of Spin Torques
• Spin pumping and shot noise in ferrimagnets: bridging ferro- and antiferromagnets
• Dynamic phase diagram of dc-pumped magnon condensates
• Spin-torque shot noise in magnetic tunnel junctions
• Evidence for spin current driven Bose-Einstein condensation of magnons
• Charge pumping and the colored thermal voltage noise in spin valves

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Quantum Theory of Spin-Transfer and Spin-Pumping in Collinear Antiferromagnets and Ferrimagnets