Minimum action paths for spin-torque assisted thermally induced magnetization reversal
Abstract
We calculate the most probable reaction paths for thermally induced magnetization reversal of a nanomagnet under the influence of spin transfer torque. The presence of the spin transfer torque implies that the standard reaction rate theory of Kramers cannot be used since the dynamics no longer shows detailed balance and so the magnetization reversals are nonequilibrium transitions. Thin film nanomagnets with a biaxial anisotropy, a shape anisotropy that leads to in-plane magnetization with a preferred axis in the plane, are considered. The reaction pathways and rates are computed using geometrical Minimum Action Method. Our results indicate that the transition state has an out-of-plane magnetization component, in contrast to the case without an applied spin transfer torque.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Pub Defense Publication
- Publication Date
- Apr 01, 2011
- Source ID
- 10.1063/1.3565021
Entities
People
- Andrew D. Kent
- Daniel L. Stein
- Eric Vanden-Eijnden
- Gabriel D. Chaves-o’flynn
Organizations
- National Science Foundation
- New York University
- Office of Naval Research