Thermally assisted spin-transfer torque magnetization reversal in uniaxial nanomagnets

We simulate the stochastic Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert dynamics of a uniaxial nanomagnet out to sub-millisecond timescales using a graphical processing unit based micromagnetic code and determine the effect of geometrical tilts between the spin-current and uniaxial anisotropy axes on the thermally assisted reversal dynamics. The asymptotic behavior of the switching time (I -> 0, < t > alpha exp(-xi(1-I)(2))) is approached gradually, indicating a broad crossover regime between the ballistic and thermally assisted spin transfer reversal. Interestingly, the functional form of the mean switching time is shown to be independent of the angle between the spin current and magnet's uniaxial axes. These results have important implications for modeling the energetics of thermally assisted magnetization reversal of spin transfer magnetic random access memory bit cells. (C) 2012 American Institute of Physics. [http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.4773053]