  Two-level fluctuations of the magnetization state of pseudo spin-valve
pillars Co(10 nm)/Cu(10 nm)/Co(30 nm) embedded in electrodeposited nanowires
(~40 nm in diameter, 6000 nm in length) are triggered by spin-polarized
currents of 10^7 A/cm^2 at room temperature. The statistical properties of the
residence times in the parallel and antiparallel magnetization states reveal
two effects with qualitatively different dependences on current intensity. The
current appears to have the effect of a field determined as the bias field
required to equalize these times. The bias field changes sign when the current
polarity is reversed. At this field, the effect of a current density of 10^7
A/cm^2 is to lower the mean time for switching down to the microsecond range.
This effect is independent of the sign of the current and is interpreted in
terms of an effective temperature for the magnetization.
