Direct dynamic imaging of non-adiabatic spin torque effects
Abstract
Spin-transfer torques offer great promise for the development of spin-based devices. The effects of spin-transfer torques are typically analysed in terms of adiabatic and non-adiabatic contributions. Currently, a comprehensive interpretation of the non-adiabatic term remains elusive, with suggestions that it may arise from universal effects related to dissipation processes in spin dynamics, while other studies indicate a strong influence from the symmetry of magnetization gradients. Here we show that enhanced magnetic imaging under dynamic excitation can be used to differentiate between non-adiabatic spin-torque and extraneous influences. We combine Lorentz microscopy with gigahertz excitations to map the orbit of a magnetic vortex core with <5nm resolution. Imaging of the gyrotropic motion reveals subtle changes in the ellipticity, amplitude and tilt of the orbit as the vortex is driven through resonance, providing a robust method to determine the non-adiabatic spin torque parameter β=0.15±0.02 with unprecedented precision, independent of external effects.© 2012 Macmillan Publishers Limited. All rights reserved.
Publication Title
Nature Communications
Recommended Citation
Pollard, S., Huang, L., Buchanan, K., Arena, D., & Zhu, Y. (2012). Direct dynamic imaging of non-adiabatic spin torque effects. Nature Communications, 3 https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2025
