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C. Sommers, P. Weinberger:
"Current-induced switching in Co/Cu/Co spin valves: The effect of interdiffusion";
Physical Review B, 72 (2005), 054431-1 - 054431-5.

The effect of interdiffusion at the Co/Cu interfaces on current-induced switching in Co/Cun/Co spin valves, n=21, 25, and 33, with the interdiffusion concentration varying between 0 and 10%, is described theoretically in terms of ab initio calculations using the relativistic screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method and the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation. It is found that interdiffusion forces the system to form a noncollinear ground state such that switching to both kinds of collinear final states is possible. Furthermore, it is shown that (i) this behavior is caused by magnetic anisotropy effects, and (ii) by decreasing the interdiffusion, the current necessary to achieve switching to such a final state (critical current) can be reduced substantially.

http://aleph.ub.tuwien.ac.at/F?base=tuw01&func=find-c&ccl_term=AC05938092