Abstract
As magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) cells for magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) are reduced in size, the presence of a magnetization vortex seriously interferes with switching selectivity. We prepared 0.3 μm × 0.8 μm, nearly rectangular shape MTJs consisted of PtMn/CoFe/Ru/CoFe/AlOx/ NiFe t (t = 3, 4.5, and 6 nm). Both at-field and remanent state measurements at 0.4 V were conducted to distinguish kinks originating from vortex and domain wall pinning. In addition, we measured samples at various temperatures (from room temperature to 500 K), and with various hard axis fields (from 0 to 90 Oe). As temperature increased, average switching fields decreased, more rapidly for t = 6 nm junctions, but kinks were not eliminated completely. When the hard axis field reached about 40-60 Oe, nearly kink-free switching was possible for t = 6 nm MTJs.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 883-886 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | IEEE Transactions on Magnetics |
Volume | 41 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - 2005 Feb |
Keywords
- Hard-axis field
- Magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM)
- Remanent-state
- Switching field
- Thermal effect
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
- Electrical and Electronic Engineering