Possibility of exchange switching ferromagnet - antiferromagnet junctions

Abstract

Current flowing is studied in magnetic junctions consisting of a ferromagnetic metal (FM), antiferromagnetic conductor (AFM) and a nonmagnetic metal closing the electric circuit. The FM layer with high anisotropy and pinned spins of the magnetic atoms in the lattice acts as a spin injector relative to the AFM layer. To obtain resulting magnetization in the AFM layer, magnetic field is applied, which may be varied to control the magnetization. The spin-polarized current from the FM layer creates a torque and makes it possible to switch the magnetization. A possibility is shown to lower the threshold current density by the orders of magnitude by means of the magnetic field.