Evaluation of spin transfer torque efficiency and characteristic switching times

Authors:
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
This study investigates the enhancement of double magnetic tunnel junction (DMTJ) performance through the integration of an assistance layer with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The diameter of the device and the thickness of the storage layer are identified as the key parameters that define thermal stability and switching speed. Both macrospin-model simulations and experimental measurements confirm that an increase in effective anisotropy produces faster switching. Previous reports confirmed that dual-spin torque mechanisms can be achieved with a hard polarizer or by introducing a thinner assistance layer alternative, but this can reduce tunneling magnetoresistance. In this work, by tuning the capping magnesium oxide, higher tunneling-magneto resistance values are achieved. Quasi-static measurements reveal that the highest spin-transfer torque efficiency is obtained when the effective anisotropy is maximized. Write-error-rate measurements, performed as a function of pulse width down to 7 ns, are analyzed with a new unified model introduced in this work, which combines ballistic and thermally activated regimes. One main result of this work shows that reducing the thicknesses of storage and assistance layers decreases the characteristic switching time τsw and that τsw further exhibits a clear dependence on device diameter, consistent with domain-wall-mediated switching dynamics, thereby indicating enhanced switching speed in the ballistic regime. The unified model introduces a characteristic switching time associated with minimum reversal energy, enabling the definition of a new figure of merit based on this minimum energy. The analysis highlights a trade-off where enhancing the ratios of thermal stability to current leads to longer characteristic switching times and higher write energy. These findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the factors that influence DMTJ performance and offer strategies to optimize their design for low-energy magnetic memory applications.
Funding Information
  • Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (CEA FOCUS thesis program Numé)
  • Commissariat à l'Énergie Atomique et aux Énergies Alternatives (rique Frugal)
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (France 2030 program PEPR SPIN: ANR-22-EXSP-0008)
  • Agence Nationale de la Recherche (France 2030 program PEPR Quantique: ANR- 22-PETQ-0002)

This publication has 40 references indexed in Scilit: