Current-induced magnetization reversal in magnetic nanowires

Abstract

The effect of pulsed currents on magnetization reversal were studied on single ferromagnetic nanowires of diameter about 80 nm and 6000 nm length. The magnetization reversal in these wires occurs with a jump of the magnetization at the switching field H_sw, which corresponds to unstable states of the magnetization. A pulsed current of about 10⁷ A/cm² was injected at different values of the applied field close to H_sw. The injected current triggered the magnetization reversal at a value of the applied field distant from the switching field by as much as 20%. This effect of current-induced magnetization reversal is interpreted in terms of the action of the spin-polarized conduction electrons on the magnetization.