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arXiv · 0801.1355

Current-induced magnetization switching in MgO barrier magnetic tunnel junctions with CoFeB based synthetic ferrimagnetic free layers

Jun Hayakawa·Shoji Ikeda·Katsuya Miura·Michihiko Yamanouchi·Young Min Lee·Ryutaro Sasaki·Masahiko Ichimura·Kenchi Ito·Takayuki Kawahara·Riichiro Takemura·Toshiyasu Meguro·Fumihiro Matsukura·Hiromasa Takahashi·Hideyuki Matsuoka·Hideo Ohno
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Abstract

We investigated the effect of using a synthetic ferrimagnetic (SyF) free layer in MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) on current-induced magnetization switching (CIMS), particularly for application to spin-transfer torque random access memory (SPRAM). The employed SyF free layer had a Co40Fe40B20/ Ru/ Co40Fe40B20 and Co20Fe60B20/Ru/Co20Fe60B20 structures, and the MTJs(100x(150-300) nm^2) were annealed at 300oC. The use of SyF free layer resulted in low intrinsic critical current density (Jc0) without degrading the thermal-stability factor (E/kBT, where E, kB, and T are the energy potential, the Boltzmann constant, and temperature,respectively). When the two CoFeB layers of a strongly antiferromagnetically coupled SyF free layer had the same thickness, Jc0 was reduced to 2-4x10^6 A/cm^2. This low Jc0 may be due to the decreased effective volume under the large spin accumulation at the CoFeB/Ru. The E/kBT was over 60, resulting in a retention time of over ten years and suppression of the write current dispersion for SPRAM. The use of the SyF free layer also resulted in a bistable (parallel/antiparallel) magnetization configuration at zero field, enabling the realization of CIMS without the need to apply external fields to compensate for the offset field.

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Jun Hayakawa, Shoji Ikeda, Katsuya Miura, Michihiko Yamanouchi, Young Min Lee, Ryutaro Sasaki, Masahiko Ichimura, Kenchi Ito, Takayuki Kawahara, Riichiro Takemura, Toshiyasu Meguro, Fumihiro Matsukura, Hiromasa Takahashi, Hideyuki Matsuoka, Hideo Ohno. 2008-01-09. Current-induced magnetization switching in MgO barrier magnetic tunnel junctions with CoFeB based synthetic ferrimagnetic free layers. https://doi.org/10.1109/tmag.2008.924545

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