Studies of dc Current-Driven Switching in Py/N/Py magnetic nanopillars

Abstract

We provide new data on current-driven switching in Permalloy (Py = Ni84Fe16) based nanopillars at room temperature and 4.2K that confirm and extend previously published work. We present data for both uncoupled and antiferromagnetically coupled samples. The latter confirm prior results for Co/Cu/Co. We show that inserting sufficiently strong spin-flip-scattering into the Cu layer eliminates hysteretic current-driven switching. This result may have ramifications for understanding current-driven switching.