Magnetization reversal driven by low dimensional chaos in a nanoscale ferromagnet

• Published in: Nature communications Vol. 10; no. 1; pp. 543 - 9
• Main Authors: Montoya, Eric Arturo, Perna, Salvatore, Chen, Yu-Jin, Katine, Jordan A., d’Aquino, Massimiliano, Serpico, Claudio, Krivorotov, Ilya N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Nature Publishing Group UK 01.02.2019; Nature Publishing Group; Nature Portfolio
• Subjects: 639/766/119/1001; 639/766/530/2803; 639/925/927/1062; Energy efficiency; Ferromagnetism; Frequency analysis; Humanities and Social Sciences; Magnetic storage; Magnetic switching; Magnetization reversal; multidisciplinary; Science; Science (multidisciplinary); Stochasticity; Torque
• ISSN: 2041-1723; 2041-1723
• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-08444-2

Energy-efficient switching of magnetization is a central problem in nonvolatile magnetic storage and magnetic neuromorphic computing. In the past two decades, several efficient methods of magnetic switching were demonstrated including spin torque, magneto-electric, and microwave-assisted switching mechanisms. Here we experimentally show that low-dimensional magnetic chaos induced by alternating spin torque can strongly increase the rate of thermally-activated magnetic switching in a nanoscale ferromagnet. This mechanism exhibits a well-pronounced threshold character in spin torque amplitude and its efficiency increases with decreasing spin torque frequency. We present analytical and numerical calculations that quantitatively explain these experimental findings and reveal the key role played by low-dimensional magnetic chaos near saddle equilibria in enhancement of the switching rate. Our work unveils an important interplay between chaos and stochasticity in the energy assisted switching of magnetic nanosystems and paves the way towards improved energy efficiency of spin torque memory and logic. Energy-efficient manipulation of spins at the nanoscale can advance magnetic storage and computing technologies. Here the authors show that low-dimensional chaos generated by alternating spin torque can induce magnetic switching in a nanoscale ferromagnet.