30 research outputs found
Detection of spin torque magnetization dynamics through low frequency noise
We present a comparative study of high frequency dynamics and low frequency
noise in elliptical magnetic tunnel junctions with lateral dimensions under 100
nm presenting current-switching phenomena. The analysis of the high frequency
oscillation modes with respect to the current reveals the onset of a
steady-state precession regime for negative bias currents above , when the magnetic field is applied along the easy axis of
magnetization. By the study of low frequency noise for the same samples, we
demonstrate the direct link between changes in the oscillation modes with the
applied current and the normalised low frequency (1/f) noise as a function of
the bias current. These findings prove that low frequency noise studies could
be a simple and powerful technique to investigate spin-torque based
magnetization dynamics
Time Domain Mapping of Spin Torque Oscillator Effective Energy
Stochastic dynamics of spin torque oscillators (STOs) can be described in
terms of magnetization drift and diffusion over a current-dependent effective
energy surface given by the Fokker-Planck equation. Here we present a method
that directly probes this effective energy surface via time-resolved
measurements of the microwave voltage generated by a STO. We show that the
effective energy approach provides a simple recipe for predicting spectral line
widths and line shapes near the generation threshold. Our time domain technique
also accurately measures the field-like component of spin torque in a wide
range of the voltage bias values.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures. Supplement included: 7 pages, 6 figure
Bimodal switching field distributions in all-perpendicular spin-valve nanopillars
Switching field measurements of the free layer element of 75 nm diameter
spin-valve nanopillars reveal a bimodal distribution of switching fields at low
temperatures (below 100 K). This result is inconsistent with a model of thermal
activation over a single perpendicular anisotropy barrier. The correlation
between antiparallel to parallel and parallel to antiparallel switching fields
increases to nearly 50% at low temperatures. This reflects random fluctuation
of the shift of the free layer hysteresis loop between two different
magnitudes, which may originate from changes in the dipole field from the
polarizing layer. The magnitude of the loop shift changes by 25% and is
correlated to transitions of the spin-valve into an antiparallel configuration.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures. Submitted to JAP for 58th MMM Proceeding
Spin transfer switching of spin valve nanopillars using nanosecond pulsed currents
Spin valve nanopillars are reversed via the mechanism of spin momentum
transfer using current pulses applied perpendicular to the film plane of the
device. The applied pulses were varied in amplitude from 1.8 mA to 7.8 mA, and
varied in duration within the range of 100 ps to 200 ns. The probability of
device reversal is measured as a function of the pulse duration for each pulse
amplitude. The reciprocal pulse duration required for 95% reversal probability
is linearly related to the pulse current amplitude for currents exceeding 1.9
mA. For this device, 1.9 mA marks the crossover between dynamic reversal at
larger currents and reversal by thermal activation for smaller currents
Parametric resonance of magnetization excited by electric field
Manipulation of magnetization by electric field is a central goal of
spintronics because it enables energy-efficient operation of spin-based
devices. Spin wave devices are promising candidates for low-power information
processing but a method for energy-efficient excitation of short-wavelength
spin waves has been lacking. Here we show that spin waves in nanoscale magnetic
tunnel junctions can be generated via parametric resonance induced by electric
field. Parametric excitation of magnetization is a versatile method of
short-wavelength spin wave generation, and thus our results pave the way
towards energy-efficient nanomagnonic devices
Magnetization reversal driven by low dimensional chaos in a nanoscale ferromagnet
Energy-efficient switching of magnetization is a central problem in
nonvolatile magnetic storage and magnetic neuromorphic computing. In the past
two decades, several efficient methods of magnetic switching were demonstrated
including spin torque, magneto-electric, and microwave-assisted switching
mechanisms. Here we report the discovery of a new mechanism giving rise to
magnetic switching. We experimentally show that low-dimensional magnetic chaos
induced by alternating spin torque can strongly increase the rate of
thermally-activated magnetic switching in a nanoscale ferromagnet. This
mechanism exhibits a well-pronounced threshold character in spin torque
amplitude and its efficiency increases with decreasing spin torque frequency.
We present analytical and numerical calculations that quantitatively explain
these experimental findings and reveal the key role played by low-dimensional
magnetic chaos near saddle equilibria in enhancement of the switching rate. Our
work unveils an important interplay between chaos and stochasticity in the
energy assisted switching of magnetic nanosystems and paves the way towards
improved energy efficiency of spin torque memory and logic