Junction size effect on switching current and thermal stability in CoFeB/MgO perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

H. Sato; M. Yamanouchi; K. Miura; S. Ikeda; H. D. Gan; K. Mizunuma; R. Koizumi; F. Matsukura; H. Ohno

doi:10.1063/1.3617429

Junction size effect on switching current and thermal stability in CoFeB/MgO perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

H. Sato, M. Yamanouchi, K. Miura, S. Ikeda, H. D. Gan, K. Mizunuma, R. Koizumi, F. Matsukura, H. Ohno

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140 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Junction size dependence of critical current (I_C0) for spin transfer torque switching and thermal stability factor (E/k_BT) was examined in CoFeB/MgO perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (p-MTJs). The I_C0 increased with increasing recording layer area (S_rec). On the other hand, the E/k_BT showed almost constant values even though the S_rec was increased from ∼1500 nm² (44 nmφ) to ∼5000 nm² (76 nmφ). Both I_C0 and E/k_BT behavior can be explained with assuming that the nucleation type magnetization reversal takes place in CoFeB/MgO p-MTJs.

Original language	English
Article number	042501
Journal	Applied Physics Letters
Volume	99
Issue number	4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3617429
Publication status	Published - 2011 Jul 25

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)

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10.1063/1.3617429

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title = "Junction size effect on switching current and thermal stability in CoFeB/MgO perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions",

abstract = "Junction size dependence of critical current (IC0) for spin transfer torque switching and thermal stability factor (E/kBT) was examined in CoFeB/MgO perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (p-MTJs). The IC0 increased with increasing recording layer area (Srec). On the other hand, the E/kBT showed almost constant values even though the Srec was increased from ∼1500 nm2 (44 nmφ) to ∼5000 nm2 (76 nmφ). Both IC0 and E/kBT behavior can be explained with assuming that the nucleation type magnetization reversal takes place in CoFeB/MgO p-MTJs.",

author = "H. Sato and M. Yamanouchi and K. Miura and S. Ikeda and Gan, {H. D.} and K. Mizunuma and R. Koizumi and F. Matsukura and H. Ohno",

note = "Funding Information: The work was supported by the FIRST program of JSPS and the GCOE program at Tohoku University. The authors wish to thank R. Sasaki, I. Morita, T. Hirata, and H. Iwanuma for their valuable discussions and technical support in MTJ fabrication.",

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doi = "10.1063/1.3617429",

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TY - JOUR

T1 - Junction size effect on switching current and thermal stability in CoFeB/MgO perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

AU - Sato, H.

AU - Yamanouchi, M.

AU - Miura, K.

AU - Ikeda, S.

AU - Gan, H. D.

AU - Mizunuma, K.

AU - Koizumi, R.

AU - Matsukura, F.

AU - Ohno, H.

N1 - Funding Information: The work was supported by the FIRST program of JSPS and the GCOE program at Tohoku University. The authors wish to thank R. Sasaki, I. Morita, T. Hirata, and H. Iwanuma for their valuable discussions and technical support in MTJ fabrication.

PY - 2011/7/25

Y1 - 2011/7/25

N2 - Junction size dependence of critical current (IC0) for spin transfer torque switching and thermal stability factor (E/kBT) was examined in CoFeB/MgO perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (p-MTJs). The IC0 increased with increasing recording layer area (Srec). On the other hand, the E/kBT showed almost constant values even though the Srec was increased from ∼1500 nm2 (44 nmφ) to ∼5000 nm2 (76 nmφ). Both IC0 and E/kBT behavior can be explained with assuming that the nucleation type magnetization reversal takes place in CoFeB/MgO p-MTJs.

AB - Junction size dependence of critical current (IC0) for spin transfer torque switching and thermal stability factor (E/kBT) was examined in CoFeB/MgO perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (p-MTJs). The IC0 increased with increasing recording layer area (Srec). On the other hand, the E/kBT showed almost constant values even though the Srec was increased from ∼1500 nm2 (44 nmφ) to ∼5000 nm2 (76 nmφ). Both IC0 and E/kBT behavior can be explained with assuming that the nucleation type magnetization reversal takes place in CoFeB/MgO p-MTJs.

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Junction size effect on switching current and thermal stability in CoFeB/MgO perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

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