Thermal Spin-Transfer Torques in Magnetoelectronic Devices
arXiv:cond-mat/0701163 · doi:10.1103/PhysRevLett.99.066603
Abstract
We predict that the magnetization direction of a ferromagnet can be reversed by the spin-transfer torque accompanying spin-polarized thermoelectric heat currents. We illustrate the concept by applying a finite-element theory of thermoelectric transport in disordered magnetoelectronic circuits and devices to metallic spin valves. When thermalization is not complete, a spin heat accumulation vector is found in the normal metal spacer, i.e., a directional imbalance in the temperature of majority and minority spins.
Accepted for publication by Physical Review Letters