We propose a theoretical model of magnetization switching in a ferromagnetic multilayer by both electric current and microwaves. The electric current gives a spin transfer torque on the magnetization, while the microwaves induce a precession of the magnetization around the initial state. Based on numerical simulation of the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation, it is found that the switching current is significantly reduced compared with the switching caused solely by the spin transfer torque when the microwave frequency is in a certain range. We develop a theory of switching from the LLG equation averaged over a constant energy curve. It was found that the switching current should be classified into four regions, depending on the values of the microwave frequency. Based on the analysis, we derive an analytical formula of the optimized frequency minimizing the switching current, which is smaller than the ferromagnetic resonance frequency. We also derive an analytical formula of the minimized switching current. Both the optimized frequency and the minimized switching current decrease with increasing the amplitude of the microwave field. The results will be useful to achieve high thermal stability and low switching current in spin torque systems simultaneously.
The magnetic field around a GaAs/AlGaAs mesa stripe induced by an AC current in the range of 0.3–15.6 µA was observed by magnetic force microscopy (MFM). To confirm the possibility of the vector decomposition of the current-induced magnetic field gradient, we compared the magnetic force signals in the cases of parallel and perpendicular configurations between the MFM cantilever and the current path. In addition, we proposed a novel way of eliminating some effects of electrostatic force, by which a good linearity in the magnetic force signals against the currents was achieved. The spatial resolution of this method was also discussed.
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