Picosecond electric field pulse induced coherent magnetic switching in MgO/FePt/Pt(001)-based tunnel junctions: a multiscale study.
Combined methods of first-principles calculations and Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) macrospin simulations are performed to investigate the coherent magnetization switching in the MgO/FePt/Pt(001)-based magnetic tunnel junctions triggered by short pulses of electric field through the control of magnetic anisotropy energy (MAE) electrically. First-principles calculations indicate that the MAE of MgO/FePt/Pt(001) film varies linearly with the change of the electric field, whereas the LLG simulations show that the change in MAE by electric field pulses could induce the in-plane magnetization reversal of the free layer by tuning the pulse parameters. We find that there exist a critical pulse width τmin to switch the in-plane magnetization, and this τmin deceases with the increasing pulse amplitude E0. Besides, the magnetization orientation cannot be switched when the pulse width exceeds a critical value τmax, and τmax increases asymptotically with E0. In addition, there exist some irregular switching areas at short pulse width due to the high precessional frequency under small initial angle. Finally, a successive magnetization switching can be achieved by a series of electric field pulses.
Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
Wanjiao
W
Zhu
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Special Artificial Microstructure Materials and Technology, School of Physical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Dun
D
Xiao
Shanghai Key Laboratory of Special Artificial Microstructure Materials and Technology, School of Physical Science and Engineering, Tongji University, Shanghai 200092, China.
Yaowen
Y
Liu
Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China.
S J
SJ
Gong
1] Key Laboratory of Polar Materials and Devices, Ministry of Education, East China Normal University, Shanghai 200241, China [2] National Laboratory for Infrared Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200083, China.
Chun-Gang
CG
Duan