Radio-frequency assisted switching in perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions

Fuente: arXiv
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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Hayward, Mark, Perna, Salvatore, d'Aquino, Massimiliano, Serpico, Claudio, Jung, Wonjoon, Dai, Chunhui, Braganca, Patrick M., Krivorotov, Ilya N.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Hayward, Mark
Perna, Salvatore
d'Aquino, Massimiliano
Serpico, Claudio
Jung, Wonjoon
Dai, Chunhui
Braganca, Patrick M.
Krivorotov, Ilya N.
author_facet Hayward, Mark
Perna, Salvatore
d'Aquino, Massimiliano
Serpico, Claudio
Jung, Wonjoon
Dai, Chunhui
Braganca, Patrick M.
Krivorotov, Ilya N.
contents Spin-transfer torque magnetic random-access memory (STT-MRAM) relies on nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) as its fundamental building blocks. Next-generation STT-MRAM requires strategies that simultaneously improve switching energy efficiency and device endurance. Here, we present the first study of perpendicular STT-MRAM writing assisted by radio-frequency (RF) spin torque. We show that applying a small-amplitude RF pulse prior to a direct-current (DC) writing pulse enhances the MTJ switching probability, with the efficiency gain increasing at lower RF frequencies. This RF+DC writing scheme enables shorter DC pulses, thereby improving device endurance. Analytical and numerical modeling qualitatively reproduces the experimental trends, while quantitative discrepancies indicate that realistic MTJ properties beyond idealized models play an important role in RF-assisted switching.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2512_12172
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Radio-frequency assisted switching in perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions
Hayward, Mark
Perna, Salvatore
d'Aquino, Massimiliano
Serpico, Claudio
Jung, Wonjoon
Dai, Chunhui
Braganca, Patrick M.
Krivorotov, Ilya N.
Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Spin-transfer torque magnetic random-access memory (STT-MRAM) relies on nanoscale magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) as its fundamental building blocks. Next-generation STT-MRAM requires strategies that simultaneously improve switching energy efficiency and device endurance. Here, we present the first study of perpendicular STT-MRAM writing assisted by radio-frequency (RF) spin torque. We show that applying a small-amplitude RF pulse prior to a direct-current (DC) writing pulse enhances the MTJ switching probability, with the efficiency gain increasing at lower RF frequencies. This RF+DC writing scheme enables shorter DC pulses, thereby improving device endurance. Analytical and numerical modeling qualitatively reproduces the experimental trends, while quantitative discrepancies indicate that realistic MTJ properties beyond idealized models play an important role in RF-assisted switching.
title Radio-frequency assisted switching in perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions
topic Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2512.12172