Magnetization switching by current and microwaves

Tomohiro Taniguchi, Daisuke Saida, Yoshinobu Nakatani, Hitoshi Kubota

Published 2015-11-11Version 1

We propose a theoretical model of magnetization switching in a ferromagnetic multilayer by both electric current and microwaves. The electric current gives a spin transfer torque on the magnetization, while the microwave induces a precession of the magnetization around the initial state. Based on numerical simulation of the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation, it is found that the switching current is reduced by less than a half compared with the switching caused solely by the spin transfer torque when the microwave frequency is in a certain range. We develop a theory of switching from the LLG equation averaged over a constant energy curve. It was found that the switching current should be classified into four regions, depending on the values of the microwave frequency. Based on the analysis, we derive an analytical formula of the optimized frequency minimizing the switching current, which is smaller than the ferromagnetic resonance frequency. We also derive an analytical formula of the minimized switching current. Both the optimized frequency and the minimized switching current decreases with increasing the amplitude of the microwave field. The results will be useful to achieve high thermal stability and low switching current in spin torque system simultaneously.