Current-induced magnetization instabilities in thin magnetic films: self-consistent Langevin dynamics simulations

• Applicant: Privatdozent Dr. Dmitry Berkov
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2006 to 2008
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 27214628

The main goal of this project a qualitative improvement of our theoretical understanding of the interaction between an electric current and a magnetization of a ferromagnetic film due to the spin-transfer phenomena. According to recent theoretical predictions, already a nonpolarized current (i.e., a current without a net spin polarization) flowing through a ferromagnetic layer can induce instabilities of its magnetization configuration, causing the appearance of magnetization excitations and switching. We intend to include the magnetization-dependent spin accumulation accompanied by a spin-diffusion (which is supposed to be the mechanism responsible for these instabilities) into the full-scale micromagnetic simulations of the spin-transfer phenomena. As a result of taking into account this qualitatively new effect we expect a decisively better understanding of the spin-transfer induced magnetization dynamics in structures with experimentally relevant sizes, where the formation of complicated mesoscopic domain patterns should be taken into account. From the point of view of potential applications results of this project should be of a great interest, helping to establish optimal conditions for switching and steady-state precession of a nanoelement magnetization induced by a spin-polarized and unpolarized currents.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1133: Ultrafast magnetization processes