Paper detail

Fluctuation Theorem for a Small Engine and Magnetization Switching by Spin Torque

We consider a reversal of the magnetic moment of a nano-magnet by the fluctuating spin-torque induced by a non-equilibrium current of electron spins. This is an example of the problem of the escape of a particle from a metastable state subjected to a fluctuating non-conservative force. The spin-torque is the non-conservative force and its fluctuations are beyond the description of the fluctuation-dissipation theorem. We estimate the joint probability distribution of work done by the spin torque and the Joule heat generated by the current, which satisfies the fluctuation theorem for a small engine. We predict a threshold voltage above which the spin-torque shot noise induces probabilistic switching events and below which such events are blocked. We adopt the theory of the full-counting statistics under the adiabatic pumping of spin angular momentum. This enables us to account for the backaction effect, which is crucial to maintain consistency with the fluctuation theorem.