Current-induced spin transfer torque in relatively thick Néel domain walls in ferromagnetic metals/semiconductors is considered theoretically in the linear response regime. Using quasiclassical approximation and unitary transformation we calculate the nonequilibrium (current-induced) spin accumulation in the domain wall. The current-induced spin density is then used to determine adiabatic and nonadiabatic components of the spin transfer torque. The results show that the spin torque as well as its nonadiabaticity can be enhanced by spin-conserving momentum scattering processes inside the wall.

• Received 24 August 2011

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.85.024416