Magnetically memorable inductance in superconducting multilayer resonators

Abstract

Superconductor-ferromagnet hybrid structures with tunable kinetic inductance are promising elements for neuromorphic and quantum computing circuits. We report the fabrication and microwave characterization of split-ring resonators based on Nb/Co/Nb/Co/Nb/Al spin-trigger multilayers and demonstrate a non-volatile spin-valve effect on their resonant properties. Reversal of the relative magnetization orientation of the cobalt layers produces a reproducible shift of the resonant frequency up to 4 MHz at zero applied magnetic field, corresponding to a change in the kinetic inductance of the structure. The incorporation of a proximitized aluminum overlayer is shown to enhance the inductance contrast between the parallel and antiparallel magnetic states by a factor of approximately three relative to structures without this layer. The experimental results are in quantitative agreement with a microscopic model based on the Usadel equations. The demonstrated magnetic memory of the resonant frequency at zero field establishes spin-trigger multilayers as viable field-programmable inductive elements for superconducting digital and neuromorphic circuits.

9 pages, 7 figures + Suppl. Mat