Local precessional reversal of a spin-valve element

Abstract Magnetisation reversal by precession has been observed for a micron-sized (4 μm ×8 μm ) spin-valve element in response to 250 ps field pulses. Due to the dispersion of the magnetisation orientation at remanence, the magnetisation of only a small fraction of the sample is aligned perpendicular to the excitation field and can undergo precessional reversal. Although this leads to an overall reduced magneto-resistance ratio, two well-defined signal levels can be established.