Thermally assisted magnetic switching of a single perpendicularly magnetized layer induced by an in-plane current

We report that by heating samples the critical current density for magnetization reversal (J(c)) in a single perpendicularly magnetized layer can be decreased from 2.6 x 10(7) A/cm(2) to about 1 x 10(6) A/cm(2) for a temperature increase of 143K. The nonlinear dependence of J(c) on the perpendicular anisotropy field indicates that the coherent magnetic switching model cannot fully explain the current-induced perpendicular switching. By considering the current-induced domain nucleation and expansion during switching, we conclude that J(c), also depends on current-induced domain behavior. Moreover, by reversing the heat flow direction, we demonstrate that the thermal related spin transfer torques have little influence on the thermally assisted magnetic switching. (C) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC.