Sumio Ikegawa

Bio: Sumio Ikegawa is an academic researcher from Toshiba. The author has contributed to research in topics: Magnetoresistive random-access memory & Magnetization. The author has an hindex of 19, co-authored 118 publications receiving 2014 citations.

Spin transfer switching in TbCoFe∕CoFeB∕MgO∕CoFeB∕TbCoFe magnetic tunnel junctions with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy

Abstract: Spin transfer (ST) switching in the TbCoFe∕CoFeB∕MgO∕CoFeB∕TbCoFe magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) was studied. The TbCoFe∕CoFeB free layer with a large coercive field of 1.2kOe and a large thermal stability factor of 107 at room temperature was switched by a 100ns pulse current with a current density of 4.7MA∕cm2. This is the first report of ST switching in a MTJ with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The temperature dependence of the coercive field was also investigated to estimate the magnetic anisotropy in the case of rising temperature due to the Joule heating effect. The measured coercive field at 87°C, which was the simulated temperature during the switching pulse current, was about 0.34kOe. The ratio of the switching current density to the coercive field under the switching current in the MTJ with the TbCoFe∕CoFeB free layer is smaller than that in a typical MTJ with an in-plane magnetized CoFeB free layer. This result indicates that a MTJ with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy is advantageous for ...

Lower-current and fast switching of a perpendicular TMR for high speed and high density spin-transfer-torque MRAM

Abstract: We investigate extremely low programming current and fast switching time of a perpendicular tunnel-magnetoresistance (P-TMR) for spin-transfer torque using a P-TMR cell of 50 nm-diameter. A L10-crystalline ordered alloy is used as a free layer that has excellent thermal stability and a damping constant of about 0.03. The programming current of 49 uA and the switching time of 4 nsec are also demonstrated.

A 64Mb MRAM with clamped-reference and adequate-reference schemes

Abstract: In order to realize a sub-Giga bit scale NVRAM, the novel MRAM based on the spin-transfer-torque (STT) switching has been intensively investigated due to its excellent scalability compared with a conventional magnetic field induce switching MRAM [1] However, the memory cell size of STT-MRAM reported so far is still over 1µm2, and the memory capacity is limited to 32Mbit even in almost 100mm2 die size [2] The large cell size is due to the large switching current of MRAM cells In order to reduce the cell size, we have proposed the perpendicular tunnel magnetoresistance (P-TMR) device, and have confirmed its high potential to achieve lower switching current [3] In this paper, a 64Mb STTMRAM with the P-TMR device having the circuit techniques to maximize operational margin is described

Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory: Present and Future

Abstract: Magnetoresistive random access memory (MRAM) is regarded as a reliable persistent memory technology because of its long data retention and robust endurance. Initial MRAM products utilized toggle mode writing of a balanced synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) free layer to overcome problems with half-selected bits that challenged traditional Stoner–Wohlfarth switching. With the development of spin transfer torque (STT) switching in perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions, the capability for scaling MRAM products increased markedly, enabling a 1-Gb device in 2019. Ongoing research will allow scaling to even higher capacities. Compared to traditional memories, STT-MRAM can save power, improve performance, and enhance system data integrity, which supports the growing computing demands for everything from data centers to Internet of Things (IoT) devices. This article provides a review of the technology that enabled present toggle and STT-MRAM products, future STT-MRAM products, and new MRAM technologies beyond STT.

Spin-torque switching with the giant spin hall effect of tantalum

Abstract: Spin currents can apply useful torques in spintronic devices. The spin Hall effect has been proposed as a source of spin current, but its modest strength has limited its usefulness. We report a giant spin Hall effect (SHE) in β-tantalum that generates spin currents intense enough to induce efficient spin-torque switching of ferromagnets at room temperature. We quantify this SHE by three independent methods and demonstrate spin-torque switching of both out-of-plane and in-plane magnetized layers. We furthermore implement a three-terminal device that uses current passing through a tantalum-ferromagnet bilayer to switch a nanomagnet, with a magnetic tunnel junction for read-out. This simple, reliable, and efficient design may eliminate the main obstacles to the development of magnetic memory and nonvolatile spin logic technologies.

A perpendicular-anisotropy CoFeB–MgO magnetic tunnel junction

Abstract: Magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) with ferromagnetic electrodes possessing a perpendicular magnetic easy axis are of great interest as they have a potential for realizing next-generation high-density non-volatile memory and logic chips with high thermal stability and low critical current for current-induced magnetization switching. To attain perpendicular anisotropy, a number of material systems have been explored as electrodes, which include rare-earth/transition-metal alloys, L1(0)-ordered (Co, Fe)-Pt alloys and Co/(Pd, Pt) multilayers. However, none of them so far satisfy high thermal stability at reduced dimension, low-current current-induced magnetization switching and high tunnel magnetoresistance ratio all at the same time. Here, we use interfacial perpendicular anisotropy between the ferromagnetic electrodes and the tunnel barrier of the MTJ by employing the material combination of CoFeB-MgO, a system widely adopted to produce a giant tunnel magnetoresistance ratio in MTJs with in-plane anisotropy. This approach requires no material other than those used in conventional in-plane-anisotropy MTJs. The perpendicular MTJs consisting of Ta/CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB/Ta show a high tunnel magnetoresistance ratio, over 120%, high thermal stability at dimension as low as 40 nm diameter and a low switching current of 49 microA.

Current-induced switching of perpendicularly magnetized magnetic layers using spin torque from the spin Hall effect.

Abstract: We show that in a perpendicularly magnetized Pt/Co bilayer the spin-Hall effect (SHE) in Pt can produce a spin torque strong enough to efficiently rotate and switch the Co magnetization. We calculate the phase diagram of switching driven by this torque, finding quantitative agreement with experiments. When optimized, the SHE torque can enable memory and logic devices with similar critical currents and improved reliability compared to conventional spin-torque switching. We suggest that the SHE torque also affects current-driven magnetic domain wall motion in Pt/ferromagnet bilayers.

NVSim: A Circuit-Level Performance, Energy, and Area Model for Emerging Nonvolatile Memory

Abstract: Various new nonvolatile memory (NVM) technologies have emerged recently. Among all the investigated new NVM candidate technologies, spin-torque-transfer memory (STT-RAM, or MRAM), phase-change random-access memory (PCRAM), and resistive random-access memory (ReRAM) are regarded as the most promising candidates. As the ultimate goal of this NVM research is to deploy them into multiple levels in the memory hierarchy, it is necessary to explore the wide NVM design space and find the proper implementation at different memory hierarchy levels from highly latency-optimized caches to highly density- optimized secondary storage. While abundant tools are available as SRAM/DRAM design assistants, similar tools for NVM designs are currently missing. Thus, in this paper, we develop NVSim, a circuit-level model for NVM performance, energy, and area estimation, which supports various NVM technologies, including STT-RAM, PCRAM, ReRAM, and legacy NAND Flash. NVSim is successfully validated against industrial NVM prototypes, and it is expected to help boost architecture-level NVM-related studies.