Current-induced magnetization switching in permalloy-based nanopillars with Cu, Ag, and Au

We compare magnetoresistances (MR) and switching currents (Is) at room temperature (295K) and 4.2K for Permalloy∕N∕Permalloy nanopillars undergoing current-induced magnetization switching (CIMS), with nonmagnetic metals N=Cu, Ag, and Au. The N-metal thickness is held fixed at 10nm. Any systematic differences in MR and Is for the different N-metals are modest, suggesting that Ag and Au represent potentially viable alternatives for CIMS studies and devices to the more widely used Cu.