Thermally assisted magnetic switching of a single perpendicularly magnetized layer induced by an in-plane current
We report that by heating samples the critical current density for magnetization reversal (J{sub c}) in a single perpendicularly magnetized layer can be decreased from 2.6 × 10{sup 7 }A/cm{sup 2} to about 1 × 10{sup 6 }A/cm{sup 2} for a temperature increase of 143 K. The nonlinear dependence of J{sub c} on the perpendicular anisotropy field indicates that the coherent magnetic switching model cannot fully explain the current-induced perpendicular switching. By considering the current-induced domain nucleation and expansion during switching, we conclude that J{sub c} also depends on current-induced domain behavior. Moreover, by reversing the heat flow direction, we demonstrate that the thermal related spin transfer torques have little influence on the thermally assisted magnetic switching.