| Peer-Reviewed

A Two-Band Tight-Binding Model of Spin-Polarized Transport in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

Received: 21 December 2012    Accepted:     Published: 10 January 2013
Views:       Downloads:
Abstract

The main features determining spin-dependent transport in magnetic tunnel junctions are well appreciated now mainly due to ab initio calculations. Nevertheless, it seems useful to have a comparatively simple model which reproduces the salient characteristics of spin-dependent transport in magnetic multilayers. We present two-band tight-binding model of magnetic tunnel junction with the layers of arbitrary thickness and non-collinear magnetization configuration. The model accounts for different symmetry of the tunneling electrons and their mixing on the interfaces. As an illustration for double-barrier structure we calculate I-V curves and spin-transfer torque. The calculations demonstrate the resonant character of the I-V dependences. Also, the significant difference in the magnitude of the torque acting on the various planes of the same magnetic layer is found.

Published in International Journal of Materials Science and Applications (Volume 2, Issue 1)
DOI 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130201.13
Page(s) 20-29
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Magnetic Tunnel Junction, Two-Band Model, I-V Curves, Spin-Transfer Torque

References
[1] T. Valet and A. Fert, "Theory of the perpendicular magneto-resistance in magnetic multilayers", Phys. Rev. B. vol. 48, pp. 7099-7113, September 1993.
[2] R.Q.Hood, L.M. Falicov, "Boltzmann-equation approach to the negative magnetoresistance of ferromagnetic-normal metal multilayers", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 46, pp. 8287-8298, October 1992.
[3] J.C. Slonczewski, "Conductance and exchange coupling of two ferromagnets separated by a tunneling barrier", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 39, pp. 6995-7002, April 1989.
[4] A. Vedyayev, B. Dieny and N. Ryzhanova, "Quantum theory of Giant Magnetoresistance of Spin-Valve Sandwiches", Europhys. Lett., vol. 19, pp. 329-336, June 1992.
[5] E. Camblong, P. M. Levy and S. Zhang, "Electron transport in magnetic inhomogeneous media", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 51, pp. 16052-16072, June 1995.
[6] J. Mathon, "Tight-binding theory of tunneling giant magne-toresistance", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 56, pp. 11810-11819, No-vember 1997.
[7] A. Vedyayev, N. Ryzhanova, C. Lacroix, L. Giacomoni, B. Dieny, "Resonance in tunneling through magnetic valve tunnel junctions", Europhys. Lett., vol. 39, pp. 219-224, July 1997.
[8] J. Mathon, A. Umerski, "Theory of resonant tunneling in epitaxial Fe/AuMgO/Fe(001) junction", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 71, 220402(R) (4 pp.), June 2005.
[9] J.M. MacLaren, X.-G. Zhang, W.H. Butler, X. Wang, "Layer KKR approach to Bloch-wave transmission and reflection: Application to spin-dependent tunneling", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 59, pp. 5470-5478, February 1999.
[10] J. Kudrnovský, V. Drchal, C. Blaas and P. Weinberger, Ab initio theory of perpendicular magnetotransport in metallic multilayers, Physical Review B, vol. 62, pp. 15084-15095, December 2000.
[11] H. Butler, X.-G. Zhang, T.C. Schulthess, J.M. MacLaren, "Spin-dependent tunneling conductance of Fe|MgO|Fe sandwiches", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 63, 054416 (12 pp.), February 2001.
[12] A. Vedyayev, N. Ryzhanova, N. Strelkov, M. Chshiev, and B. Dieny, "A two-band model of spin-polarized transport in Fe/Cr/MgO/Fe mafnetic tunnel junctions", J. Appl. Phys., vol. 107, p. 09C720, May 2010.
[13] E. Y. Tsymbal, O. N. Mryasov, P. R. LeClair, "Spin-dependent tunneling in magnetic tunnel junctions", J. Phys.: Cond. Matter, vol. 15, pp. R103-R142, January 2003.
[14] E.Y. Tsymbal, K.D. Belashchenko, J.P. Velev, S.S. Jaswal, M. van Schilfgaarde, I.I. Oleynik, D.A. Stewart, "Interface effects in spin-dependent tunneling", Progr. in Mat. Sci., vol. 52, pp. 401-420, February-March 2007.
[15] A.N. Chantis, K.D. Belashchenko, D.L. Smith, E.Y. Tsymbal, M. van Schilfgaarde, and R.C. Albers, "Reversal of Spin Polarization in Fe/GaAs(001) Driven by Resonant Surface States: First-principal Calculations", Phys. Rev. Lett., vol. 99, 196603 (4 pp.), November 2007.
[16] M.D. Stiles, A. Zangwill, "Anatomy of spin-transfer torque", Phys. Rev. B vol. 66, 014407 (14 pp.), July 2002.
[17] J.C. Slonczewski, Current-driven excitation of magnetic multilayers, JMMM, vol. 159, pp. L1-L7, June 1996.
[18] L. Berger, "Emission of spin wave by a magnetic multilayer traversed by a current", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 54, pp. 9353-9358, October 1996.
[19] A. Shpiro, P.M. Levy, S. Zhang, "Self-consistent treatment of nonequilibrium spin torques in magnetic multilayers", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 67, 104430 (17 pp.), March 2003.
[20] C. Heide, P. E. Zilberman, and J. R. Elliot, Current-driven switching of magnetic layers, Phys. Rev. B, vol. 63, 064424 (7 pp.), February 2001.
[21] A. Manchon, N. Ryzhanova, N.Strelkov, A. Vedyayev, B. Dieny, "Modelling spin transfer torque and magnetoresistance in magnetic multilayers", J. Phys.: Cond. Matt., vol. 19, 165212 (42 pp.), April 2007.
[22] F. Garcia-Moliner F and V.R. Velasco, Theory of Single and Multiple Interfaces, World Scientific, Singapore, 1992.
[23] A. Vedyayev, N. Ryzhanova, R. Vlutters, B. Dieny and N. Strelkov, "Voltage dependence of giant tunnel magnetore-sistance in triple barrier magnetic systems", J. Phys.: Cond. Matt., vol. 12,pp. 1797-1804, February 2000.
[24] S. Datta, "Electronic Transport in Mesoscopic Systems", Cambridge University Precc, 1997.
[25] A. Manchon, N. Ryzhanova, A. Vedyayev, M..Chschiev, and B. Dieny, "Description of current-driven torques in magnetic tunnel junctions", J. Phys.: Cond. Matt., vol. 20, 145208 (33 pp.), April 2008.
[26] Xingtao Jia, Ke Xia, Youqi Ke and Hong Guo, "Nonlinear bias dependence of spin-transfer torque from atomic first principles", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 84, 014401 (5 pp.), July 2011.
[27] P. Bruno, "Theory of interlayer magnetic coupling", Phys. Rev. B, vol. 52, pp. 411-439, July 1995.
Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    N. Strelokov, M. Zhuravlev, N. Ryzhanova, A. Vedyayev. (2013). A Two-Band Tight-Binding Model of Spin-Polarized Transport in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions. International Journal of Materials Science and Applications, 2(1), 20-29. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130201.13

    Copy | Download

    ACS Style

    N. Strelokov; M. Zhuravlev; N. Ryzhanova; A. Vedyayev. A Two-Band Tight-Binding Model of Spin-Polarized Transport in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions. Int. J. Mater. Sci. Appl. 2013, 2(1), 20-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130201.13

    Copy | Download

    AMA Style

    N. Strelokov, M. Zhuravlev, N. Ryzhanova, A. Vedyayev. A Two-Band Tight-Binding Model of Spin-Polarized Transport in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions. Int J Mater Sci Appl. 2013;2(1):20-29. doi: 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130201.13

    Copy | Download

  • @article{10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130201.13,
      author = {N. Strelokov and M. Zhuravlev and N. Ryzhanova and A. Vedyayev},
      title = {A Two-Band Tight-Binding Model of Spin-Polarized Transport in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions},
      journal = {International Journal of Materials Science and Applications},
      volume = {2},
      number = {1},
      pages = {20-29},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130201.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130201.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijmsa.20130201.13},
      abstract = {The main features determining spin-dependent transport in magnetic tunnel junctions  are well appreciated now mainly due to ab initio calculations. Nevertheless, it seems useful to have a comparatively simple model which reproduces the salient characteristics of spin-dependent transport in magnetic multilayers. We present two-band tight-binding model of magnetic tunnel junction with the layers of arbitrary thickness and non-collinear magnetization configuration. The model accounts for different symmetry of the tunneling electrons and their mixing on the interfaces. As an illustration for double-barrier structure we calculate I-V curves and spin-transfer torque. The calculations demonstrate the resonant character of the I-V dependences. Also, the significant difference in the magnitude of the torque acting on the various planes of the same magnetic layer is found.},
     year = {2013}
    }
    

    Copy | Download

  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - A Two-Band Tight-Binding Model of Spin-Polarized Transport in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
    AU  - N. Strelokov
    AU  - M. Zhuravlev
    AU  - N. Ryzhanova
    AU  - A. Vedyayev
    Y1  - 2013/01/10
    PY  - 2013
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130201.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130201.13
    T2  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
    JF  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
    JO  - International Journal of Materials Science and Applications
    SP  - 20
    EP  - 29
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2327-2643
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijmsa.20130201.13
    AB  - The main features determining spin-dependent transport in magnetic tunnel junctions  are well appreciated now mainly due to ab initio calculations. Nevertheless, it seems useful to have a comparatively simple model which reproduces the salient characteristics of spin-dependent transport in magnetic multilayers. We present two-band tight-binding model of magnetic tunnel junction with the layers of arbitrary thickness and non-collinear magnetization configuration. The model accounts for different symmetry of the tunneling electrons and their mixing on the interfaces. As an illustration for double-barrier structure we calculate I-V curves and spin-transfer torque. The calculations demonstrate the resonant character of the I-V dependences. Also, the significant difference in the magnitude of the torque acting on the various planes of the same magnetic layer is found.
    VL  - 2
    IS  - 1
    ER  - 

    Copy | Download

Author Information
  • Department of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

  • Kurnakov Institute of General and Inorganic Chemistry of RAS, Moscow

  • Department of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

  • Department of Physics, Lomonosov Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia

  • Sections