Magnonic spin-transfer torque MRAM with low power, high speed, and error-free switching

A new class of spin-transfer torque magnetic random access memory (STT-MRAM) is discussed, in which writing is achieved using thermally initiated magnonic current pulses as an alternative to conventional electric current pulses. The magnonic pulses are used to destabilize the magnetic free layer from its initial direction, and are followed immediately by a bipolar electric current exerting conventional spin-transfer torque on the free layer. The combination of thermal and electric currents greatly reduces switching errors, and simultaneously reduces the electric switching current density by more than an order of magnitude as compared to conventional STT-MRAM. The energy efficiency of several possible electro-thermal circuit designs have been analyzed numerically. As compared to STT-MRAM with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, magnonic STT-MRAM reduces the overall switching energy by almost 80%. Furthermore, the lower electric current density allows the use of thicker tunnel barriers, which should result in higher tunneling magneto-resistance and improved tunnel barrier reliability. The combination of lower power, improved reliability, higher integration density, and larger read margin make magnonic STT-MRAM a promising choice for future non-volatile storage.Comment: 9 Pages, 11 Figure

Critical Binder cumulant for isotropic Ising models on square and triangular lattices

Using Monte Carlo techniques, the critical Binder cumulant U* of isotropic nearest-neighbour Ising models on square and triangular lattices is studied. For rectangular shapes, employing periodic boundary conditions, U* is found to show the same dependence on the aspect ratio for both lattice types. Similarly, applying free boundary conditions for systems with square as well as circular shapes for both lattices, the simulational findings are also consistent with the suggestion that, for isotropic Ising models with short-range interactions, U* depends on the shape and the boundary condition, but not on the lattice structure.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, submitted to J. Stat. Mec

Thickness dependent magnetotransport in ultra-thin manganite films

To understand the near-interface magnetism in manganites, uniform, ultra-thin films of La_{0.67}Sr_{0.33}MnO_3 were grown epitaxially on single crystal (001) LaAlO_3 and (110) NdGaO_3 substrates. The temperature and magnetic field dependent film resistance is used to probe the film's structural and magnetic properties. A surface and/or interface related dead-layer is inferred from the thickness dependent resistance and magnetoresistance. The total thickness of the dead layer is estimated to be $\sim 30 \AA$ for films on NdGaO_3 and $\sim 50 \AA$ for films on LaAlO_3.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figure

Redshifted 21cm Signatures Around the Highest Redshift Quasars

The Ly-alpha absorption spectrum of the highest redshift quasars indicates that they are surrounded by giant HII regions, a few Mpc in size. The neutral gas around these HII regions should emit 21cm radiation in excess of the Cosmic Microwave Background, and enable future radio telescopes to measure the transverse extent of these HII regions. At early times, the HII regions expand with a relativistic speed. Consequently, their measured sizes along the line-of-sight (via Ly-alpha absorption) and transverse to it (via 21 cm emission) should have different observed values due to relativistic time-delay. We show that the combined measurement of these sizes would directly constrain the neutral fraction of the surrounding intergalactic medium (IGM) as well as the quasar lifetime. Based on current number counts of luminous quasars at z>6, an instrument like LOFAR should detect >2 redshifted 21cm shells per field (with a radius of 11 degrees) around active quasars as bright as those already discovered by SDSS, and >200 relic shells of inactive quasars per field. We show that Ly-alpha photons from the quasar are unable to heat the IGM or to couple the spin and kinetic temperatures of atomic hydrogen beyond the edge of the HII region. The detection of the IGM in 21cm emission around high redshift quasars would therefore gauge the presence of a cosmic Ly-alpha background during the reionization epoch.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures. Submitted to Ap

Temperature- and Bias-dependence of magnetoresistance in doped manganite thin film trilayer junctions

Thin film trilayer junction of La$$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ - SrTiO$_3$ - La$_{0.67}$Sr$_{0.33}$MnO$_3$ shows a factor of 9.7 change in resistance, in a magnetic field around 100 Oe at 14K. The junction magnetoresistance is bias and temperature dependent. The energy scales associated with bias and temperature dependence are an order of magnitude apart. The same set of energies also determine the bias and temperature dependence of the differential conductance of the junction. We discuss these results in terms of metallic cluster inclusions at the junction-barrier interface.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figure

Self-forces from generalized Killing fields

A non-perturbative formalism is developed that simplifies the understanding of self-forces and self-torques acting on extended scalar charges in curved spacetimes. Laws of motion are locally derived using momenta generated by a set of generalized Killing fields. Self-interactions that may be interpreted as arising from the details of a body's internal structure are shown to have very simple geometric and physical interpretations. Certain modifications to the usual definition for a center-of-mass are identified that significantly simplify the motions of charges with strong self-fields. A derivation is also provided for a generalized form of the Detweiler-Whiting axiom that pointlike charges should react only to the so-called regular component of their self-field. Standard results are shown to be recovered for sufficiently small charge distributions.Comment: 21 page

Topological Modes in Dual Lattice Models

Lattice gauge theory with gauge group $Z_{P}$ is reconsidered in four dimensions on a simplicial complex $K$. One finds that the dual theory, formulated on the dual block complex $\hat{K}$, contains topological modes which are in correspondence with the cohomology group $H^{2}(\hat{K},Z_{P})$, in addition to the usual dynamical link variables. This is a general phenomenon in all models with single plaquette based actions; the action of the dual theory becomes twisted with a field representing the above cohomology class. A similar observation is made about the dual version of the three dimensional Ising model. The importance of distinct topological sectors is confirmed numerically in the two dimensional Ising model where they are parameterized by $H^{1}(\hat{K},Z_{2})$.Comment: 10 pages, DIAS 94-3

Energy-momentum balance in quantum dielectrics

We calculate the energy-momentum balance in quantum dielectrics such as Bose-Einstein condensates. In agreement with the experiment [G. K. Campbell et al. Phys. Rev. Lett. 94, 170403 (2005)] variations of the Minkowski momentum are imprinted onto the phase, whereas the Abraham tensor drives the flow of the dielectric. Our analysis indicates that the Abraham-Minkowski controversy has its root in the Roentgen interaction of the electromagnetic field in dielectric media