Thermal spin-transfer torque in magnetoelectronic devices.
We predict that the magnetization direction of a ferromagnet can be reversed by the spin-transfer torque accompanying spin-polarized thermoelectric heat currents. We illustrate the concept by applying a finite-element theory of thermoelectric transport in disordered magnetoelectronic circuits and devices to metallic spin valves. When thermalization is not complete, a spin heat accumulation vector is found in the normal-metal spacer, i.e., a directional imbalance in the temperature of majority and minority spins.
Hatami
Moosa
M
Kavli Institute of NanoScience, Delft University of Technology, Lorentzweg 1, 2628 CJ Delft, The Netherlands.
Bauer
Gerrit E W
GE
Zhang
Qinfang
Q
Kelly
Paul J
PJ