Thermoelectrical manipulation of nano-magnets: A spin-thermionic oscillator

Paper in proceeding, 2010

We investigate the interplay between the thermodynamic properties and spin-dependent transport in a mesoscopic magnetic multilayer, in which two strongly ferromagnetic layers are exchange-coupled through a weakly ferromagnetic spacer. We show theoretically that the system allows a spin-thermoelectronic control of the relative orientation of the outer layers. Supporting experimental evidence of thermally controlled switching from parallel to anti-parallel magnetization orientations in the sandwich is presented. We show magneto-resistance oscillations may take place with frequencies up to GHz. We discuss in detail an experimental realization of a device that can operate as a thermo-magneto-resistive switch or oscillator.