45 research outputs found
Non-white frequency noise in spin torque oscillators and its effect on spectral linewidth
We measure the power spectral density of frequency fluctuations in
nanocontact spin torque oscillators over time scales up to 50 ms. We use a
mixer to convert oscillator signals ranging from 10 GHz to 40 GHz into a band
near 70 MHz before digitizing the time domain waveform. We analyze the waveform
using both zero crossing time stamps and a sliding Fourier transform, discuss
the different limitations and advantages of these two methods, and combine them
to obtain a frequency noise spectrum spanning more than five decades of Fourier
frequency . For devices having a free layer consisting of either a single
NiFe layer or a Co/Ni multilayer we find a
frequency noise spectrum that is white at large and varies as \emph{}
at small . The crossover frequency ranges from \approx\unit[10^{4}]{Hz} to
\approx\unit[10^{6}]{Hz} and the component is stronger in the
multilayer devices. Through actual and simulated spectrum analyzer
measurements, we show that frequency noise causes both broadening and a
change in shape of the oscillator's spectral line as measurement time
increases. Our results indicate that the long term stability of spin torque
oscillators cannot be accurately predicted from models based on thermal (white)
noise sources
Time domain measurement of phase noise in a spin torque oscillator
We measure oscillator phase from the zero crossings of the voltage vs. time
waveform of a spin torque nanocontact oscillating in a vortex mode. The power
spectrum of the phase noise varies with Fourier frequency as ,
consistent with frequency fluctuations driven by a thermal source. The
linewidth implied by phase noise alone is about 70 % of that measured using a
spectrum analyzer. A phase-locked loop reduces the phase noise for frequencies
within its 3 MHz bandwidth.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, supplementary material. Submitted to {Appl. Phys.
Lett.
Frequency Modulation of Spin-Transfer Oscillators
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.Comment: 13 pages, 3 Figure
Synchronization of spin-torque driven nanooscillators for point contacts on a quasi-1D nanowire: Micromagnetic simulations
In this paper we present detailed numerical simulation studies on the
synchronization of two spin-torque nanooscillators (STNO) in the quasi-1D
geometry: magnetization oscillations are induced in a thin NiFe nanostripe by a
spin polarized current injected via square-shaped CoFe nanomagnets on the top
of this stripe. In a sufficiently large out-of-plane field, a propagating
oscillation mode appears in such a system. Due to the absence of the
geometrically caused wave decay in 1D systems, this mode is expected to enable
a long-distance synchronization between STNOs. Indeed, our simulations predict
that synchronization of two STNOs on a nanowire is possible up to the
intercontact distance 3 mkm (for the nanowire width 50 nm). However, we have
also found several qualitatively new features of the synchronization behaviour
for this system, which make the achievement of a stable synchronization in this
geometry to a highly non-trivial task. In particular, there exist a minimal
distance between the nanocontacts, below which a synchronization of STNOs can
not be achieved. Further, when the current value in the first contact is kept
constant, the amplitude of synchronized oscillations depends non-monotonously
on the current value in the second contact. Finally, for one and the same
currents values through the contacts there might exist several synchronized
states (with different frequencies), depending on the initial conditions.Comment: 13 pages with 4 figurews, recently submitted to PR
Broadband Ferromagnetic Resonance Linewidth Measurement of Magnetic Tunnel Junction Multilayers
The broadband ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) linewidth of the free layer of
magnetic tunnel junctions is used as a simple diagnostic of the quality of the
magnetic structure. The FMR linewidth increases near the field regions of free
layer reversal and pinned layer reversal, and this increase correlates with an
increase in magnetic hysteresis in unpatterned films, low frequency noise in
patterned devices, and previous observations of magnetic domain ripple by use
of Lorentz microscopy. Postannealing changes the free layer FMR linewidth
indicating that considerable magnetic disorder, originating in the
exchange-biased pinned layer, is transferred to the free layer.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figure
Switching Distributions for Perpendicular Spin-Torque Devices within the Macrospin Approximation
We model "soft" error rates for writing (WSER) and for reading (RSER) for
perpendicular spin-torque memory devices by solving the Fokker-Planck equation
for the probability distribution of the angle that the free layer magnetization
makes with the normal to the plane of the film. We obtain: (1) an exact, closed
form, analytical expression for the zero-temperature switching time as a
function of initial angle; (2) an approximate analytical expression for the
exponential decay of the WSER as a function of the time the current is applied;
(3) comparison of the approximate analytical expression for the WSER to
numerical solutions of the Fokker-Planck equation; (4) an approximate
analytical expression for the linear increase in RSER with current applied for
reading; (5) comparison of the approximate analytical formula for the RSER to
the numerical solution of the Fokker-Planck equation; and (6) confirmation of
the accuracy of the Fokker-Planck solutions by comparison with results of
direct simulation using the single-macrospin Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG)
equations with a random fluctuating field in the short-time regime for which
the latter is practical
Magnetism and the Weiss Exchange Field - A Theoretical Analysis Inspired by Recent Experiments
The huge spin precession frequency observed in recent experiments with
spin-polarized beams of hot electrons shot through magnetized films is
interpreted as being caused by Zeeman coupling of the electron spins to the
so-called Weiss exchange field in the film. A "Stern-Gerlach experiment" for
electrons moving through an inhomogeneous exchange field is proposed. The
microscopic origin of exchange interactions and of large mean exchange fields,
leading to different types of magnetic order, is elucidated. A microscopic
derivation of the equations of motion of the Weiss exchange field is presented.
Novel proofs of the existence of phase transitions in quantum XY-models and
antiferromagnets, based on an analysis of the statistical distribution of the
exchange field, are outlined.Comment: 36 pages, 3 figure
Superconducting Transition Edge Sensor Using Dilute AlMn Alloys
We have fabricated a bolometer using a transition-edge sensor (TES) made of Al doped with Mn to suppress the superconducting critical temperature (Tc) of Al from ∼1Kto∼100mK. The resulting detector exhibits low-frequency noise consistent with theory, with a noise-equivalent power of 7.5×10−18W/√Hz. The addition of Mn impurities did not significantly increase the heat capacity of the TES. In addition, the detector is surprisingly insensitive to applied magnetic fields. The use of AlMn alloy films in arrays of TES detectors has advantages in simplicity of fabrication when compared to traditional bilayer fabrication techniques