Spin-current vortices in current-perpendicular-to-plane nanoconstricted spin valves

N. Strelkov (1, 2) , A. Vedyayev (1, 2) , N. Ryzhanova (1, 2) , D. Gusakova (1) , L. D. Buda-Prejbeanu (1) , M. Chshiev (1) , S. Amara (1) , N. de Mestier (1) , C. Baraduc (1) , B. Dieny (1)

1 SPINTEC - SPINtronique et TEchnologie des Composants
2 Department of Magnetism

The charge and spin diffusion equations, taking into account spin-flip and spin-transfer torque, were numerically solved using a finite element method in complex noncollinear geometry with strongly inhomogeneous current flow. As an illustration, spin-dependent transport through a nonmagnetic nanoconstriction, separating two magnetic layers was investigated. Unexpected results such as vortices of spin-currents in the vicinity of the nanoconstriction were obtained. The angular variations of magnetoresistance and spin-transfer torque are strongly influenced by the structure geometry.

Keywords: spin polarized transport; spin transfer torque

Domains: Electronics; Instrumentation and Detectors [physics.ins-det]

N. Strelkov, A. Vedyayev, N. Ryzhanova, D. Gusakova, L. D. Buda-Prejbeanu, et al.. Spin-current vortices in current-perpendicular-to-plane nanoconstricted spin valves. Physical Review B: Condensed Matter and Materials Physics (1998-2015), 2011, 84 (2), pp.024416. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevB.84.024416⟩. ⟨cea-00853164⟩