A nonuniform stationary state of a magnetic junction under the conditions of switching by spin-polarized current

A stationary state of a spin-valve magnetic junction under the conditions of current-induced instability is studied. It is shown that switching is nonuniform if the switchable free-layer thickness exceeds the longitudinal spin diffusion length. The given-voltage mode is considered. The angle between the magnetization vectors of adjacent magnetic layers in the switched state is found as a function of the applied voltage. The current-voltage (I-V) characteristic of a switched junction is calculated. It is predicted that, if the relative magnetoresistance is sufficiently high, switching exhibits hysteretic behavior leading to a bistable I-V characteristic.[PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]