Spin-Torque-Nano-Oscillator based neuromorphic computing assisted by laser

Abstract

In spintronic-based neuromorphic computing systems (NCSs), the switching of magnetic moment in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) or magnetic oscillation in spin torque nano-oscillator (STNO) is used to mimic biological neuron firing. Although using STNO reduces the power consumption significantly, still there is a huge gap between the power consumption of spintronic-based NCS and brain due to the high bias current. In this paper, the power consumption of the proposed STNO-based NCS is reduced by thermally assisting the STNO oscillation through a microwatt nanosecond laser pulse. The experimental results show the power consumption of STNOs in NCS reduces by 56% by heating them up to 10000B0;C. The total power consumption of the proposed laser assisted oscillation-based NCS (LAO-NCS) is reduced by 46% at 100°C compared with a typical STNO-based NCS at room temperature.