Minimum field strength in precessional magnetization reversal
Ultrafast magnetic field pulses as short as 2 picoseconds are able to reverse the magnetization in thin, in-plane, magnetized cobalt films. The field pulses are applied in the plane of the film, and their direction encompasses all angles with the magnetization. At a right angle to the magnetization, maximum torque is exerted on the spins. In this geometry, a precessional magnetization reversal can be triggered by fields as small as 184 kiloamperes per meter. Applications in future ultrafast magnetic recording schemes can be foreseen.
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Laboratorium fur Festkorperphysik, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland. IBM Research Division, Zurich Research Laboratory, CH-8803 Ruschlikon, Switzerland. IBM Research Division, Almaden Research Center, 650 Harry Road, San Jose, CA.
Allenspach
R
Weber
W
Parkin
SS
Weller
D
Garwin
EL
Siegmann
HC