Magnetic Device Spin Sinker Self-Generated Spin Current
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional spin orbit torque devices face challenges in material control and efficiency due to dependency on spin current from heavy metal layers, which limits their operation speed and thermal stability, while increasing magnetic layer thickness improves thermal stability but reduces spin torque efficiency.
Innovation Solution
A magnetic device with a spin sinker and magnetic layer that generates a self-generated spin current perpendicular to the in-plane current, allowing for faster operation and improved thermal stability without relying on the spin current from heavy metal layers, by using ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic materials for both layers and attenuating the spin current to minimize power loss.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the magnetic layer thickness is increased to improve thermal stability, then thermal stability of magnetic information is improved, but spin torque efficiency is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a spin sinker layer as an intermediary component between the magnetic layer and the read/write heads. This spin sinker accumulates spin current generated by the spin Hall effect in the heavy metal layer, and then injects it into the magnetic layer to move magnetic domain walls. This mediator structure enables efficient spin torque transfer while allowing the magnetic layer to be thicker for improved thermal stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the operational parameters by utilizing the spin Hall effect in a heavy metal layer to generate transverse spin current, which is then accumulated and redirected by the spin sinker. This parameter change from direct longitudinal spin current to transverse accumulated spin current enables both thick magnetic layers for stability and efficient domain wall motion.
2Speed
If spin current from heavy metal layers is used to control magnetic structure, then operation speed can be improved, but material control difficulty and dependency on heavy metal spin current increase
Solution Approach 1:
The spin sinker acts as a mediator that decouples the heavy metal layer from direct control of the magnetic layer. It accumulates spin current from the heavy metal layer and then injects it into the magnetic layer, providing better material control while maintaining fast operation speeds through efficient spin current utilization.
Solution Approach 2:
The spin sinker structure enables the system to self-regulate spin current flow. It automatically accumulates excess spin current from the heavy metal layer and directs it where needed in the magnetic layer, reducing the need for precise external control and material optimization.
3Device complexity
If conventional spin orbit torque device structure is used, then device complexity is reduced, but power loss increases due to inefficient spin current transfer
Solution Approach 1:
The spin sinker serves as an energy-efficient intermediary that accumulates and directs spin current with minimal loss. This mediator structure reduces power loss by ensuring efficient transfer of spin angular momentum from the heavy metal layer to the magnetic layer, while adding only one additional functional layer to the device structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the spin Hall effect generation, spin current accumulation, and spin torque injection functions into an integrated structure where the spin sinker merges multiple functions into a single layer, improving energy efficiency without significantly increasing device complexity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The magnetic device achieves faster operation and improved thermal stability of magnetic information, maintaining efficiency similar to spin transfer torque devices while eliminating dependency on heavy metal spin currents, with increased magnetic layer thickness enhancing self-generated spin current and reducing power loss.
Implementation Method 1
When an in-plane current is supplied to the magnetic layer in an X direction, the in-plane current generates a self-generated spin current that perpendicularly flows to the charge current in the magnetic layer
Implementation Method 2
a spin sinker that receives and attenuates the self-generated spin current from the magnetic layer and transfers the attenuated spin current
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a magnetic device including a spin sinker. The magnetic device includes a storage medium, a spin sinker, and a read node. The storage medium receives an in-plane current from outside and generates a self-generated spin current that perpendicularly flows to a charge current, thereby controlling a data structure with the self-generated spin current. The spin sinker receives and attenuates the spin current. The read node measures a magnetoresistance of a data structure through the storage medium. The storage medium is made of a magnetic metal and the spin sinker is made of a magnetic insulating material.