Magnetic dynamics with spin transfer torques near the Curie temperature

Abstract

We use atomistic stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Slonczewski simulations to study the interaction between large thermal fluctuations and spin transfer torques in the magnetic layers of spin valves. At temperatures near the Curie temperature $T_{\rm C}$, spin currents measurably change the size of the magnetization (i.e. there is a {\it longitudinal} spin transfer effect). The change in magnetization of the free magnetic layer in a spin valve modifies the temperature dependence of the applied field-applied current phase diagram for temperatures near $T_{\rm C}$. These atomistic simulations can be accurately described by a Landau-Lifshitz-Bloch + Slonczewski equation, which is a thermally averaged mean field theory. Both the simulation and the mean field theory show that a longitudinal spin transfer effect can be a substantial fraction of the magnetization close to $T_{\rm C}$.