  Spin-polarized dc electric current flowing into a magnetic layer can induce
precession of the magnetization at a frequency that depends on current. We show
that addition of an ac current to this dc bias current results in a frequency
modulated (FM) spectral output, generating sidebands spaced at the modulation
frequency. The sideband amplitudes and shift of the center frequency with drive
amplitude are in good agreement with a nonlinear FM model that takes into
account the nonlinear frequency-current relation generally induced by spin
transfer. Single-domain simulations show that ac current modulates the cone
angle of the magnetization precession, in turn modulating the frequency via the
demagnetizing field. These results are promising for communications and signal
processing applications of spin-transfer oscillators.
