Spin-transfer induced ultrafast precessional switching enhanced by interface anisotropy in a ferromagnetic nanopillar

Spin-transfer induced ultrafast precessional switching of magnetization in a Co/Cu/Co nanopillar device is studied. Micromagnetic calculations show that precessional magnetization switching occurs above a threshold current. The presence of interface uniaxial anisotropy in the Co-thin film free layer influences heavily the current and the energy required to initiate the switching in the device, and the speed of the precessional switching. The threshold current and the precessional switching time are significantly reduced by this effect.