Current-driven magnetization reversal in a ferromagnetic semiconductor (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As tunnel junction

Phys Rev Lett. 2004 Nov 19;93(21):216602. doi: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.93.216602. Epub 2004 Nov 18.

Abstract

Current-driven magnetization reversal in a ferromagnetic semiconductor based (Ga,Mn)As/GaAs/(Ga,Mn)As magnetic tunnel junction is demonstrated at 30 K. Magnetoresistance measurements combined with current pulse application on a rectangular 1.5 x 0.3 microm2 device revealed that magnetization switching occurs at low critical current densities of 1.1-2.2 x 10(5) A/cm2 despite the presence of spin-orbit interaction in the p-type semiconductor system. Possible mechanisms responsible for the effect are discussed.