Abstract
We report single-shot measurements of resistance versus time for thermally assisted spin-torque switching in magnetic tunnel junctions. We achieve the sensitivity to resolve the magnetic dynamics prior to as well as during switching, yielding detailed views of switching modes and variations between events. Analyses of individual traces allow measurements of coherence times, nonequilibrium excitation spectra, and variations in magnetization precession amplitude. We find that with a small in-plane hard-axis magnetic field the switching dynamics are more spatially coherent than for a zero field.
- Received 11 June 2009
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.104.097201
©2010 American Physical Society
Viewpoint
Taking advantage of nature for a greener nonvolatile memory
Published 1 March 2010
Thermal magnetic fluctuations, usually thought of as a barrier to magnetic information storage and processing, can be harnessed to make green, low-energy magnetic applications a possibility.
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