Spin Torque for Dummies Matt Pufall, Bill Rippard

Spin Torque for Dummies

• Matt Pufall, Bill Rippard

• Shehzu Kaka, Steve Russek, Tom Silva

• National Institute of Standards and Technology,

• Boulder, CO

Outline

But first… a puzzle!

Part 1: Spin dynamics

Larmor Equation

Part 2: Charge transport in magnetic heterostructures (Magneto-transport)

Ferromagnetism in Conductors: Band Structure

Spin-dependent conductivity in ferromagnetic metals

Concept: interfacial spin-dependent scattering

Concept: ferromagnets as spin polarizers

Concept: spin accumulation

Part 3: Spin momentum transfer

Non-collinear spin transmission

Spin Momentum Transfer: Small Current Limit

Spin Momentum Transfer: Large Current Limit

Transverse torque via spin reorientation/reflection

Newton’s Second Law

The Slonczewski Torque Term

The “FAQ Page”

Back to the puzzle…

Magnetodynamics: Three Torques

Nanocontact Dynamics

Summary