Thermal dynamics in symmetric magnetic nanopillars driven by spin transfer

We study the effects of spin transfer on thermally activated dynamics of magnetic nanopillars with identical thicknesses of the magnetic layers. The symmetric nanopillars exhibit anomalous dependencies of switching statistics on magnetic field and current. We interpret our data in terms of simultaneous current-induced excitation of both layers. We also find evidence for coupling between the fluctuations of the layers due to the spin transfer. (C) 2008 American Institute of Physics.