Magnetic Nanopillars Research Articles

Micromagnetic study of the dynamics of toron chains

This work analyzes the nucleation and stabilization of torons in cylindrical nanopillars with bulk DMI and easy-plane anisotropy. A micromagnetic study reveals the dependence of toron chains on the nanopillar length and the different behaviors when nucleating an even or odd number of torons in a magnetic nanopillar. Spin wave resonant modes in these systems are explored, evidencing differences according to the number of torons. The interplay between torons, chiral bobbers, and their associated spin wave modes is analyzed, which is relevant for applications demanding dynamical modes in the range of gigahertz.

Ultrathin Ternary FeCoNi Alloy Nanoarrays in BaTiO3 Matrix for Room-Temperature Multiferroic and Hyperbolic Metamaterial.

Multifunctional vertically aligned nanocomposite (VAN) thin films exhibit considerable potential in diverse fields. Here, a BaTiO3-FeCoNi alloy (BTO-FCN) system featuring an ultrathin ternary FCN alloy nanopillar array embedded in the BTO matrix has been developed with tailorable nanopillar size and interpillar distance. The magnetic alloy nanopillars combined with a ferroelectric oxide matrix present intriguing multifunctionality and coupling properties. The room-temperature magnetic response proves the soft magnet nature of the BTO-FCN films with magnetic anisotropy has been demonstrated. Furthermore, the anisotropic nature of the dielectric-metal alloy VAN renders it an ideal candidate for hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM), and the epsilon-near-zero (ENZ) wavelength, where the real part of permittivity (ε') turns to negative, can be tailored from ∼700 nm to ∼1050 nm. Lastly, room-temperature multiferroicity has been demonstrated via interfacial coupling between the magnetic nanopillars and ferroelectric matrix.

Symmetry Breaking by Dipole Interactions in a 3 × 3 Arrangement of Hollow Magnetic Ni Nanopillars

Symmetry Breaking by Dipole Interactions in a 3 × 3 Arrangement of Hollow Magnetic Ni Nanopillars

Binary frequency shift keying modulation in spin torque oscillators with synthetic antiferromagnetic layer

Antiferromagnets exhibit ultrafast magnetization precession, which has the potential to enable the development of terahertz spin torque nano-oscillators. By utilizing perpendicularly magnetized magnetic nanopillars with a synthetic antiferromagnetic (SAF) free layer, we have demonstrated through theoretical and numerical analysis that stable out-of-plane precession states can be achieved by applying current and an electric field. In the case of small current, the two magnetic layers of the SAF are in antiparallel alignment and rotate around the z-axis with the precession frequency decreasing as the current strength increases. When the current-induced spin torque is strong enough to fully overcome the antiferromagnetic coupling, the SAF free layer is driven into a scissor-like precession state around the z-axis with the frequency increasing with current. By selecting the appropriate combination of the current and electric field, the magnetization precession orbits and precession frequencies can be adjusted. These controllable procession orbits with tunable frequencies and fixed magnetization precession amplitude may be a promising candidate for implementing binary frequency shift keying modulation techniques.

Stochastic Magnetic Actuated Random Transducer Devices Based on Perpendicular Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

True random number generators are of great interest in many computing applications such as cryptography, neuromorphic systems and Monte Carlo simulations. Here we investigate perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction nanopillars (pMTJs) activated by short duration (ns) pulses in the ballistic limit for such applications. In this limit, a pulse can transform the Boltzmann distribution of initial free layer magnetization states into randomly magnetized down or up states, i.e. a bit that is 0 or 1, easily determined by measurement of the junction's tunnel resistance. It is demonstrated that bitstreams with millions of events: 1) are very well described by the binomial distribution; 2) can be used to create a uniform distribution of 8-bit random numbers; 3) pass multiple statistical tests for true randomness, including all the National Institute of Standards tests for random number generators with only one XOR operation; and 4) can have no drift in the bit probability with time. The results presented here show that pMTJs operated in the ballistic regime can generate true random numbers at GHz bitrates, while being more robust to environmental changes, such as their operating temperature, compared to other stochastic nanomagnetic devices.

Current-driven magnetization dynamics and its correlation with magnetization configurations in perpendicularly magnetized tunnel junctions

We study spin-transfer-torque-driven magnetization dynamics of a perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction nanopillar. Through the combined investigations on spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance and microwave spectroscopy, it is found that the free layer (FL) and the weak pinned reference layer (RL) exhibit distinct dynamic behaviors. First, frequency vs field dispersion for the FL and RL shows an opposite trend as the field varies. Second, the FL can support a single spin-wave (SW) mode for both parallel and antiparallel configurations, while the RL exhibits spin-wave excitation only for the antiparallel state. Those two SW modes coexist at the antiparallel state, and their oscillation frequency exhibits a crossover phenomenon with increasing the external magnetic field, which could be helpful in the mutual synchronization of auto-oscillations for SW-based neuromorphic computing.

Spin-torque switching mechanisms of perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction nanopillars

Understanding the spin-transfer magnetization switching mechanisms of perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction nanopillars is critical to optimizing their performance in memory devices. Here, we use micromagnetics to study how the free layer's exchange constant affects its switching dynamics. Switching is shown to generally occur by (1) growth of the magnetization precession amplitude in the element center; (2) an instability in which the reversing region moves to the element edge, forming magnetic domain wall(s); and (3) the motion of the domain wall(s) across the element. For small exchange and large element diameters, step 1 leads to a droplet with a fully reversed core that experiences a drift instability (step 2). While in the opposite case (large exchange and small diameters), the central region of the element is not fully reversed before step 2 occurs. The origin of the micromagnetic structure is shown to be the free layer's non-uniform demagnetization field. More coherent, energy-efficient, and faster switching is associated with larger exchange, showing that increasing the exchange interaction strength leads to improvements in device performance.

Micromagnetic instabilities in spin-transfer switching of perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

Micromagnetic instabilities and non-uniform magnetization states play a significant role in spin transfer induced switching of nanometer scale magnetic elements. Here we model domain wall mediated switching dynamics in perpendicularly magnetized magnetic tunnel junction nanopillars. We show that domain wall surface tension always leads to magnetization oscillations and instabilities associated with the disk shape of the junction. A collective coordinate model is developed that captures aspects of these instabilities and illustrates their physical origin. Model results are compared to those of micromagnetic simulations. The switching dynamics is found to be very sensitive to the domain wall position and phase, which characterizes the angle of the magnetization in the disk plane. This sensitivity is reduced in the presence of spin torques and the spin current needed to displace a domain wall can be far less than the threshold current for switching from a uniformly magnetized state. A prediction of this model is conductance oscillations of increasing frequency during the switching process.

FORC signatures and switching-field distributions of dipolar coupled nanowire-based hysterons

Analysis of first-order reversal curves (FORCs) is a powerful tool to probe irreversible switching events in nanomagnet assemblies. As in essence switching events are related to the intrinsic properties of the constituents and their interactions, the resulting FORC diagrams contain much information that can be cross-linked and complex to deconvolute. In order to quantify the relevant parameters that drive the FORC diagrams of arrays of perpendicularly magnetized nanomagnets, we present step-by-step simulations of assemblies of hysterons to determine the specific signatures related to different known inputs. While we explored the consequences of dipolar interactions using either mean field or magnetostatic approaches, we completed by taking the hysteron switching field distribution (SFD) as either normal or lognormal. We demonstrated that the transition between FORC diagrams composed of an isolated interaction field distribution (IFD) and a wishbone shape operates via the SFD deviation, σHsw, in the presence of a weakly dispersed interaction field. In the presence of a magnetostatic interaction field, the IFD profile is peaked and a coercive field distribution (CFD) sums to the IFD as σHsw increases. A transition between IFD + CFD and wishbone shapes is clearly demonstrated as a function of the interaction field deviation σHint. In addition, we demonstrate that whatever the considered cases, σHswcan be quantitatively extracted from the FORC diagrams within an error inferior to 10%. These findings are of interest for dipolar coupled perpendicularly magnetized nanomagnets, as in assemblies of magnetic nanowires and nanopillars, as well as bit patterned media.

Sub-nanosecond spin-torque switching of perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction nanopillars at cryogenic temperatures

Spin-transfer magnetic random access memory devices are of significant interest for cryogenic computing systems where a persistent, fast, low-energy consuming, and nanometer scale device operating at low temperature is needed. Here, we report the low-temperature nanosecond duration spin-transfer switching characteristics of perpendicular magnetic tunnel junction (pMTJ) nanopillar devices (40–60 nm in diameter) and contrast them to their room temperature properties. Interestingly, the characteristic switching time decreases with temperature, with the largest reduction occurring between room temperature and 150 K. The switching energy increases with decreasing temperature, but still compares very favorably with other types of spin-transfer devices at 4 K, with <300 fJ required per switch. Write error rate (WER) measurements show highly reliable switching with WER ≤ 5 × 10–5 with 4 ns pulses at 4 K. Our results demonstrate the promise of pMTJ devices for cryogenic applications and show routes to further device optimization.

Magnetically Actuated Dynamic Iridescence Inspired by the Neon Tetra.

Inspired by the tropical fish neon tetra, we report a mechanism to achieve dynamic iridescence that can be magnetically tuned. This approach is based on the tilting of periodic photonic nanostructures, as opposed to the more common strain-induced color tuning. In this method, a periodic array of magnetic nanopillars serves as a template to guide the assembly of iron oxide nanoparticles when magnetized in a liquid environment. The periodic local fields induced by the magnetic template anchor the assembled particle columns, allowing the structure to tilt about the base when the angle of the applied field is changed. This effect emulates a microscopic "Venetian blind" and results in dynamic optical properties through structural coloration that is tunable in real time. The fabricated prototype demonstrates tunable reflectance spectra with peak wavelength shift from 528 to 720 nm. The magnetic actuation mechanism is reversible and has a fast response time around 0.3 s. This structure can be implemented on an arbitrary surface as dynamic camouflage, iridescent display, and tunable photonic elements, as well as in other applications such as active fluidic devices and particle manipulation.

Transient dynamics of strongly coupled spin vortex pairs: Effects of anharmonicity and resonant excitation on inertial switching

Spin vortices in magnetic nanopillars are used as GHz oscillators, with frequency however essentially fixed in fabrication. We demonstrate a model system of a two-vortex nanopillar, in which the resonance frequency can be changed by an order of magnitude, without using high dc magnetic fields. The effect is due to switching between the two stable states of the vortex pair, and we show that it can be done with low-amplitude fields of sub-ns duration. We detail the relevant vortex-core dynamics and explain how field anharmonicity and phase control can be used to enhance the performance.

Resonant pinning spectroscopy with spin-vortex pairs

Vortex pairs in magnetic nanopillars with strongly coupled cores and pinning of one of the cores by a morphological defect, are used to perform resonant pinning spectroscopy, in which a microwave excitation applied to the nanopillar produces pinning or depinning of the cores only when the excitation is in resonance with the rotational or gyrational eigenmodes of the specific initial state of the core-core pair. The shift in the eigenmode frequencies between the pinned and depinned states is determined experimentally and explained theoretically, and illustrates the potential for multi-core spin-vortex memory with resonant writing of information on to various stable vortex pair states. Further, it is shown how the same resonant spectroscopy techniques applied to a vortex pair can be used as a sensitive nanoscale probe for characterizing morphological defects in magnetic films.

Memristors: Heterogeneous Memristive Devices Enabled by Magnetic Tunnel Junction Nanopillars Surrounded by Resistive Silicon Switches (Adv. Electron. Mater. 3/2018)

Memristors: Heterogeneous Memristive Devices Enabled by Magnetic Tunnel Junction Nanopillars Surrounded by Resistive Silicon Switches (Adv. Electron. Mater. 3/2018)

Heterogeneous Memristive Devices Enabled by Magnetic Tunnel Junction Nanopillars Surrounded by Resistive Silicon Switches

AbstractEmerging nonvolatile memories (NVMs) have currently attracted great interest for their potential applications in advanced low‐power information storage and processing technologies. Conventional NVMs, such as magnetic random access memory and resistive random access memory, suffer from limitations of low tunnel magnetoresistance, low access speed, or finite endurance. NVMs with synergetic advantages are still highly desired for future computer architectures. This study reports a heterogeneous memristive device composed of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) nanopillar surrounded by resistive silicon switches, named resistively enhanced MTJ (Re‐MTJ), which may be utilized for novel memristive memories, enabling new functionalities that are inaccessible for conventional NVMs. The Re‐MTJ device features a high ON/OFF ratio of >1000% and multilevel resistance behavior by combining magnetic switching together with resistive switching mechanisms. The magnetic switching originates from the MTJ, while the resistive switching is induced by a point‐switching filament process that is related to the mobile oxygen ions. Microscopic evidence of silicon aggregated as nanocrystals along the edges of the nanopillars verifies the synergetic mechanism of the heterogeneous memristive device. This device may provide new possibilities for advanced memristive memory and computing architectures, e.g., in‐memory computing and neuromorphics.

Self-assembling epitaxial growth of a single crystalline CoFe2O4 nanopillar array via dual-target pulsed laser deposition

Magnetic nanopillars are promising for a variety of technological applications, though the template-free fabrication of magnetic nanopillar arrays with good crystallinity and uniform distribution remains a substantial challenge.

Nanotechnology-Based Strategies for Early Cancer Diagnosis Using Circulating Tumor Cells as a Liquid Biopsy.

Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) are cancer cells that shed from a primary tumor and circulate in the bloodstream. As a form of “tumor liquid biopsy”, CTCs provide important information for the mechanistic investigation of cancer metastasis and the measurement of tumor genotype evolution during treatment and disease progression. However, the extremely low abundance of CTCs in the peripheral blood and the heterogeneity of CTCs make their isolation and characterization major technological challenges. Recently, nanotechnologies have been developed for sensitive CTC detection; such technologies will enable better cell and molecular characterization and open up a wide range of clinical applications, including early disease detection and evaluation of treatment response and disease progression. In this review, we summarize the nanotechnology-based strategies for CTC isolation, including representative nanomaterials (such as magnetic nanoparticles, gold nanoparticles, silicon nanopillars, nanowires, nanopillars, carbon nanotubes, dendrimers, quantum dots, and graphene oxide) and microfluidic chip technologies that incorporate nanoroughened surfaces and discuss their key challenges and perspectives in CTC downstream analyses, such as protein expression and genetic mutations that may reflect tumor aggressiveness and patient outcome.

Effective demagnetizing tensors in arrays of magnetic nanopillars

A model describing the effect of magnetic dipolar interactions on the susceptibility of magnetic nanopillars is presented. It is an extension of a recently reported model for three-dimensional randomlike dispersions of nearly spherical nanoparticles in equilibrium [S\'anchez et al., Phys. Rev. B 95, 134421 (2017)], to well-ordered arrays of nanoparticles out of equilibrium. To test it, a high-quality benchmark consisting of a two-dimensional hexagonal arrangement of quasi-identical parallel nickel nanopillars embedded in a porous alumina template was fabricated. This model is based on an effective demagnetizing tensor, which only depends on a few morphological parameters of the sample, as the nearest-neighbor distance between pillars and the volume fraction of pillars in the specimen. It allows us to obtain the nanopillar intrinsic susceptibility tensor from the magnetic response of the nanopillar ensemble. The values of the in-plane and normal-to-plane susceptibility of the sample are successfully predicted by the model. Furthermore, the model reproduces the susceptibility in the applied field direction, measured for different applied field angles. In this way, it provides a simple and accurate treatment to account for the complex magnetic effects produced by dipolar interactions.

Non-Degeneracy and Effects of Pinning in Strongly Coupled Vortex Pairs

We study the effects of pinning on the quasi-static behavior of stacked, strongly coupled spin-vortex pairs in magnetic multilayered nanopillars, with vertical vortex separation small compared with the vortex-core size. The small separation causes the core-core interaction to be the dominant energy contribution for small applied fields and excitations, which results in highly non-linear dynamics. The properties of such a vortex pair are expected to only be dependent on the relative vortex core polarizations and relative chiralities, so that the individual configurations should be degenerated. We show how pinning can lift this degeneracy, which can be used to distinguish the individual chirality configurations.

Thermal FMR Spectral Characterization of Very Low RA In-Plane MgO Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

The ability to fabricate MgO magnetic tunnel junction nanopillars with low RA and high TMR opens the door to new devices such as magnetic memories or nanooscillators. Here, we address the dynamic behavior of a CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB MTJ with a synthetic-antiferromagnetic pinned layer as a potential candidate for spin-transfer torque (STT) driven applications. The unpatterned stack presents an RA of $\sim 1.4~\Omega \mu \text{m}^{2}$ and both free layer and barrier are patterned down to a $90 \times 180$ nm2 elliptical shape. The observed high-frequency spectra displayed deviations from the uniform precession modes due to additional coupling fields. A dependence of the STT magnitude on the analyzed mode was obtained, differing from previous reports, most likely due to the very low RA employed.