Spin torque driven excitations in a synthetic antiferromagnet

Spin polarized current induced self oscillations have been investigated in both the free layer and the synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) pinned layer of spin valve nanopillars. Compared with free layer excitations, the acoustic type SAF excitations are characterized by high emitted power and much narrower linewidth. Furthermore, in contrast to free layer excitations, the SAF in-plane precession mode exhibits an unexpected crossover from redshift (df/dI < 0) to blueshift (df/dI>0) in frequency f versus current I as the in-plane magnetic field is increased. From simulations we identify this crossover as a signature of large amplitude spin current induced precessional dynamics in the SAF.