Spin transfer torque in antiferromagnetic spin valves: From clean to disordered regimes

Abstract

Current-driven spin torques in metallic spin valves composed of antiferromagnets are theoretically studied using the nonequilibrium Green's function method implemented on a tight-binding model. We focus our attention on G-type and L-type antiferromagnets in both clean and disordered regimes. In such structures, spin torques can either rotate the magnetic order parameter coherently (coherent torque) or compete with the internal antiferromagnetic exchange (exchange torque). We show that, depending on the symmetry of the spin valve, the coherent and exchange torques can either be in the plane, $\ensuremath{\propto}\mathbf{n}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}(\mathbf{q}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathbf{n})$ or out of the plane $\ensuremath{\propto}\mathbf{n}\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}\mathbf{q}$, where $\mathbf{q}$ and $\mathbf{n}$ are the directions of the order parameter of the polarizer and the free antiferromagnetic layers, respectively. Although disorder conserves the symmetry of the torques, it strongly reduces the torque magnitude, pointing out the need for momentum conservation to ensure strong spin torque in antiferromagnetic spin valves.