Figure 1 | Scientific Reports

Figure 1

From: Lateral spin transfer torque induced magnetic switching at room temperature demonstrated by x-ray microscopy

Figure 1

Schematic layout of the current in plane spin transfer torque (STT CIP) structure (left) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images (right).

The magnetic pillar (marked by dashed lines in the zoom shown upper right) is placed in between two polarizers with aspect ratios 10 μm × 1 μm and 20 μm × 0.5 μm, respectively. Due to the different aspect ratios the magnetizations of the polarizers can be set antiparallel, as sketched by the dotted arrows. A Cu line is used to carry a spin polarized under the polarizers and the pillar. Depending on its polarization, this current switches the pillar between the two magnetization directions, which are energetically favored due to the elliptic shape of the pillar (left and right in the zoom shown in the center).

Back to article page