Spin transfer torque in ferromagnet-normal metal-antiferromagnet junctions

Abstract

This study investigated theoretically the properties of the spin transfer torque acting on a ferromagnet in a ferromagnet- normal metal-antiferromagnet junction. Earlier work showed that the angular dependence of the spin transfer torque can be a wavy-type if the junction satisfies a special symmetry. This paper reports a simple model analysis that allows a derivation of the wavy angular dependence without taking advantage of the symmetry. This result suggests that the wavy angular dependence can appear even when the symmetry is broken. As an illustration, the angular dependence was calculated as a function of the degree of the compensation at the normal metal-antiferromagnet interface. The implications of the result for the current-induced magnetization precession are discussed. © 2011 Journal of Magnetics.