Bias dependence of magnetic exchange interactions: application to interlayer exchange coupling in spin valves

Abstract

We study how a bias voltage changes magnetic exchange interactions. We derive a general expression for magnetic exchange interactions for systems coupled to reservoirs under a bias potential, and apply it to spin valves. We find that for metallic systems, the interlayer exchange coupling shows a weak, oscillatory dependence on the bias potential. For tunneling systems, we find a quadratic dependence on the bias potential, and derive an approximate expression for this bias dependence for a toy model. We give general conditions for when the interlayer exchange coupling is a quadratic function of bias potential.