Spin transfer switching enhancement in perpendicular anisotropy magnetic tunnel junctions with a canted in-plane spin polarizer

Abstract

We have studied spin transfer switching (STS) in a magnetic tunnel junction with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy for the reference and free layers using the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert formalism. We propose a multilayer structure in which the insertion of an additional spin polarizer with in-plane anisotropy can enhance the STS efficiency and switching speed of the device. It is revealed that a canted spin polarizer with an angle between 40° and 80° out of the film plane in the correct direction enhances the STS efficiency more than a fixed in-plane or perpendicular polarizer. Furthermore, we show that the spin transfer torque exerted on the in-plane polarizer layer by the free layer automatically tilts the in-plane polarizer in the direction that enhances STS for both magnetization states of the free layer.