High-output tri-magnetic terminal-based non-local spin valves

We propose tri-magnetic terminal-based non-local spin valves (TM-NLSVs) for lateral structures. A lateral structure has dual spin injector terminals with an anti-parallel spin configuration. The accumulated spin is detected as the voltage between the free layer and one side of the spin injector. Numerical investigation revealed that the output voltage of the TM-NLSV is 2.4-fold higher than that of the conventional four-terminal structure. A further 3.7-fold increase is expected by increasing the injector area by a factor of 9. These results indicate the possibility of obtaining an output voltage that is almost the same as that of conventional (non-lateral) spin valves. (C) 2015 The Japan Society of Applied Physics