Spin-bias driven magnetization reversal and nondestructive detection in a single molecular magnet

Abstract

The magnetization reversal in a single molecular magnet (SMM) weakly coupled to an electrode with spin-dependent splitting of chemical potentials (spin bias) is theoretically investigated by means of the rate equation. A microscopic mechanism for the reversal is demonstrated by the avalanche dynamics at the reversal point. The magnetization as a function of the spin bias shows hysteresis loops tunable by the gate voltage and varying with temperature. The nondestructive measurement to the orientation of giant spin in SMM is presented by measuring the fully polarized electric current in the response to a small spin bias. For Mn12 ac molecule, its small transverse anisotropy only slightly violates the results above. The situation when there is an angle between the easy axis of the SMM and the spin-quantization direction of the electrode is also studied. © 2009 The American Physical Society.