Spin transfer torque on magnetic insulators

Recent experimental and theoretical studies focus on spin-mediated heat currents at interfaces between normal metals and magnetic insulators. We resolve conflicting estimates for the order of magnitude of the spin transfer torque by first-principles calculations. The spin mixing conductance G(up down arrow) of the interface between silver and the insulating ferrimagnet Yttrium Iron Garnet (YIG) is dominated by its real part and of the order of 10(14)Omega(-1) m(-2), i.e. close to the value for intermetallic interface, which can be explained by a local spin model. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2011