Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Multi-level domain wall memory in constricted magnetic nanowires

  • Published:
Applied Physics A Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We report a new type of multibit per cell (MBPC) magnetic memory wherein the movement and position of domain wall (DW) can be controlled precisely using spin polarized current. Out of two investigated configurations, the one with in-plane magnetization offers faster DW motion, and hence is suitable for high-speed applications, although stability may be an issue. In contrast, stable DWs were observed in the perpendicular configuration. Furthermore, the DW position can be controlled through a sequence of pulses with different magnitudes. Controlling the DW position offers a novel MBPC magnetic memory with high performance compared to other solid state memories.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2
Fig. 3
Fig. 4
Fig. 5

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. J.C. Slonczewski, J. Magn. Magn. Mater. 159, L1 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. L. Berger, Phys. Rev. B 54, 9353 (1996)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. M. Tsoi, A.G.M. Jansen, J. Bass, W.C. Chiang, M. Seck, V. Tsoi, P. Wyder, Phys. Rev. Lett. 80, 4281 (1998)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. E.B. Myers, D. Ralph, J.A. Katine, R.N. Louie, R.A. Buhrman, Science 285, 867 (1999)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. S.I. Kiselev, J.C. Sankey, I.N. Krivorotov, N.C. Emley, R.J. Schoelkopf, R.A. Buhrman, D.C. Ralph, Nature 425, 380 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. S. Mangin, D. Ravelosona, J.A. Katine, M.J. Carey, B.D. Terris, E.E. Fullerton, Nat. Mater. 5, 210 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. C.L. Zha, S. Bonetti, J. Persson, Y. Zhou, J. Åkerman, J. Appl. Phys. 105, 07E910 (2009)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. H. Meng, R. Sbiaa, S.Y.H. Lua, C.C. Wang, M.A.K. Akhtar, S.K. Wong, P. Luo, C.J.P. Carlberg, K.S.A. Ang, J. Phys. D: Appl. Phys. 44, 405001 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. P. Khalili Amiri, Z.M. Zeng, J. Langer, H. Zhao, G. Rowlands, Y.-J. Chen, I.N. Krivorotov, J.-P. Wang, H.W. Jiang, J.A. Katine, Y. Huai, K. Galatsis, K.L. Wang, Appl. Phys. Lett. 98, 112507 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. M. Gajek, J.J. Nowak, J.Z. Sun, P.L. Trouilloud, E.J. O’Sullivan, D.W. Abraham, M.C. Gaidis, G. Hu, S. Brown, Y. Zhu, R.P. Robertazzi, W.J. Gallagher, D.C. Worledge, Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 132408 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  11. H. Meng, R. Sbiaa, M.A.K. Akhtar, R.S. Liu, V.B. Naik, C.C. Wang, Appl. Phys. Lett. 100, 122405 (2012)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  12. Y. Wang, X. Yin, D. Le Roy, J. Jiang, H.X. Wei, S.H. Liou, X.F. Han, J. Appl. Phys. 113, 133906 (2013)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  13. P.P. Freitas, L. Berger, J. Appl. Phys. 57, 1266 (1985)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  14. C.-Y. Hung, L. Berger, J. Appl. Phys. 63, 4276 (1988)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  15. L. Gan, S.H. Chung, K.H. Aschenbach, M. Dreyer, R.D. Gomez, IEEE Trans. Magn. 36, 3047 (2000)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  16. M. Tsoi, R.E. Fontana, S.S.P. Parkin, Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 2617 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. J. Grollier, P. Boulenc, V. Cros, A. Hamzić, A. Vaurès, A. Fert, G. Faini, Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 509 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. M. Klaui, C.A.F. Vaz, J.A.C. Bland, W. Wernsdorfer, G. Faini, E. Cambril, L.J. Heyderman, Appl. Phys. Lett. 83, 105 (2003)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  19. A. Yamaguchi, T. Ono, S. Nasu, K. Miyake, K. Mibu, T. Shinjo, Phys. Rev. Lett. 92, 77205 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. N. Vernier, D.A. Allwood, D. Atkinson, M.D. Cooke, R.P. Cowburn, Europhys. Lett. 65, 526 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  21. L. Thomas, M. Hayashi, X. Jiang, R. Moriya, C. Rettner, S.S.P. Parkin, Nature 443, 197 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. G.S.D. Beach, C. Knutson, C. Nistor, M. Tsoi, J.L. Erskine, Phys. Rev. Lett. 97, 57203 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. D. Ravelosona, S. Mangin, Y. Lemaho, J.A. Katine, B.D. Terris, E.E. Fullerton, Phys. Rev. Lett. 96, 186604 (2006)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  24. S.-H. Huang, C.-H. Lai, Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 32505 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  25. C.T. Boone, J.A. Katine, M. Carey, J.R. Childress, X. Cheng, I.N. Krivorotov, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 97203 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  26. M. Hayashi, L. Thomas, R. Moriya, C. Rettner, S.S.P. Parkin, Science 320, 209 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  27. A.V. Khvalkovskiy, K.A. Zvezdin, Y.V. Gorbunov, V. Cros, J. Grollier, A. Fert, K. Zvezdin, Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 067206 (2009)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  28. S.S.P. Parkin, US (2004). Patent No. 6,834,005

  29. S.S.P. Parkin, M. Hayashi, L. Thomas, Science 320, 190 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  30. R. Sbiaa, R. Law, S. Lua, E.L. Tan, T. Tahmasebi, C.C. Wang, S.N. Piramanayagam, Appl. Phys. Lett. 99, 092506 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  31. R. Law, R. Sbiaa, T. Liew, T.C. Chong, IEEE Trans. Magn. 44, 2612 (2008)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  32. S. Zhang, Z. Li, Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 127204 (2004)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  33. S. Ikeda, K. Miura, H. Yamamoto, K. Mizunuma, H.D. Gan, M. Endo, S. Kanai, J. Hayakawa, F. Matsukura, H. Ohno, Nat. Mater. 9, 721 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  34. S.Y. Jang, C.-Y. You, S.H. Lim, S.R. Lee, J. Appl. Phys. 109, 013901 (2011)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  35. E. Martinez, L. Lopez-Diaz, O. Alejos, L. Torres, C. Tristan, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 267202 (2007)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  36. K. Yakushiji, T. Saruya, H. Kubota, A. Fukushima, T. Nagahama, S. Yuasa, K. Ando, Appl. Phys. Lett. 97, 232508 (2010)

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  37. R. Sbiaa, H. Meng, S.N. Piramanayagam, Phys. Status Solidi RRL 5, 413 (2011)

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, Sultan Qaboos University, P.O. Box 36, PC 123, Muscat, Oman

    R. Sbiaa

  2. Data Storage Institute, A*STAR (Agency for Science, Technology and Research), 5 Engineering Drive 1, Singapore, 117608, Singapore

    S. N. Piramanayagam

Authors
  1. R. Sbiaa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. S. N. Piramanayagam
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to R. Sbiaa.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Sbiaa, R., Piramanayagam, S.N. Multi-level domain wall memory in constricted magnetic nanowires. Appl. Phys. A 114, 1347–1351 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-013-7979-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00339-013-7979-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation