Enhancement of Spin-transfer torque switching via resonant tunneling

Abstract

We propose the use of resonant tunneling as a route to enhance the spin-transfer torque switching characteristics of magnetic tunnel junctions. The proposed device structure is a resonant tunneling magnetic tunnel junction based on a MgO-semiconductor heterostructure sandwiched between a fixed magnet and a free magnet. Using the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism coupled self consistently with the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert-Slonczewski equation, we demonstrate enhanced tunnel magneto-resistance characteristics as well as lower switching voltages in comparison with traditional trilayer devices. Two device designs based on MgO based heterostructures are presented, where the physics of resonant tunneling leads to an enhanced spin transfer torque thereby reducing the critical switching voltage by up to 44%. It is envisioned that the proof-of-concept presented here may lead to practical device designs via rigorous materials and interface studies.

arXiv comment5 pages, 5 figures

References in corpus (9)

• Microwave Oscillations of a Nanomagnet Driven by a Spin-Polarized Current
• Current-driven Magnetization Reversal and Spin Wave Excitations in Co/Cu/Co Pillars
• Measurement of the Spin-Transfer-Torque Vector in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
• A Three-Dimensional Quantum Simulation of Silicon Nanowire Transistors with the Effective-Mass Approximation
• Thermal Spin-Transfer Torques in Magnetoelectronic Devices
• Anomalous Bias Dependence of Spin Torque in Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
• Bias and angular dependence of spin-transfer torque in magnetic tunnel junctions
• Quantum Transport with Spin Dephasing: A Nonequilibrium Green's Function Approach
• Power and efficiency analysis of a realistic resonant tunneling diode thermoelectric

Cited by in corpus (8)

• Resonant spin transfer torque nano-oscillators
• Giant magnetoresistance and anomalous transport in phosphorene-based multilayers with noncollinear magnetization
• Ultra-sensitive nanoscale magnetic field sensors based on resonant spin filtering
• Scaling Projections on Spin Transfer Torque Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
• Enhancement of Thermal Spin Transfer Torque via Bandpass Energy Filtering
• Giant spin transfer torque in atomically thin magnetic bilayers
• Effects of Elastic Dephasing on Scaling of ultra-small Magnetic Tunnel Junctions
• Band-pass superlattice magnetic tunnel junctions