Domain-wall pinning, nonadiabatic spin-transfer torque, and spin-current polarization in permalloy wires doped with vanadium

Abstract

Using pulsed-current measurements we investigate the domain-wall depinning via spin-transfer torque from pinning potentials in V-doped Ni80Fe20 wires. The domain-wall depinning boundary, showing the variation of threshold current density with longitudinal magnetic field is measured and reproduced using micromagnetic simulations. This method allows us to determine the spin-current polarization and nonadiabaticity parameter in these materials. By increasing the V concentration we show that the nonadiabaticity parameter is increased while the Gilbert damping is unaffected. On the other hand the spin-current polarization is decreased, resulting in larger threshold current densities.