Stochastic current-induced magnetization switching in a single semiconducting ferromagnetic layer

Phys Rev Lett. 2014 Jan 17;112(2):026601. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.112.026601. Epub 2014 Jan 14.

Abstract

We show experimental evidence of magnetization switching in a single (Ga,Mn)(As,P) semiconducting ferromagnetic layer, attributed to a strong reduction of the magnetization and the anisotropy due to current injection. The nucleation of magnetization reversal is found to occur even in the absence of a magnetic field and to be both anisotropic and stochastic. Our findings highlight a new mechanism of magnetization manipulation based on spin accumulation in a semiconductor material.