Flipping the bits with current

Abstract

Applied Physics Using magnetic fields to write information into memory storage limits the physical bit density of magnetic media. Hong et al. present a proof-of-principle demonstration of using spin-polarized currents instead of magnetic fields for the writing process, which could potentially increase this density. The magnetic bit was a multilayer structure with cobalt-iron-boron as the magnetic layer. A scanning tip—through which the spin-polarized current tunneled into the bit—was coated with a similar multilayer. The researchers were able to control the magnetization of the bit with the current by placing the tip only 3 angstroms away—a distance that will need to be increased for commercial applications. Appl. Phys. Lett. 114 , 243101 (2019).