Spin-polarized current-induced magnetization reversal in perpendicularly magnetized L10-FePt layers

Current-induced magnetization reversal of perpendicularly magnetized layers was studied in current-perpendicular-to-plane giant magnetoresistance pillars with L1(0)-FePt (001) layers. The FePt layers exhibited strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of the order of 10(7) erg/cm(3). A series of magnetoresistance curves after applying pulse currents with different current densities showed that current-induced magnetization reversal from an antiparallel to a parallel alignment occurred at the current density of the order of 10(8) A/cm(2) with the assistance of magnetic field. (c) 2006 American Institute of Physics.