Switching Magnetization of a Nanoscale Ferromagnetic Particle Using Nonlocal Spin Injection

We have performed nonlocal spin injection into a nanoscale ferromagnetic particle configured in a lateral spin-valve structure to switch its magnetization only by spin current. The nonlocal spin injection aligns the magnetization of the particle parallel to the magnetization of the spin injector. The spin current responsible for switching is estimated from the experiment to be about 200 microA, which is reasonable compared with the values obtained for conventional pillar structures. Interestingly, the switching always occurs from antiparallel to parallel in the particle-injector magnetic configurations, where no opposite switching is observed. Possible reasons for this discrepancy are discussed.