Spin Transfer Torque Evaluation Based on Coupled Spin and Charge Transport: A Finite Element Method Approach

Emerging spin transfer torque magnetoresistive random access memories (STT MRAM) are nonvolatile and offer high speed and endurance. MRAM cells include a fixed reference magnetic layer and a free-to-switch ferromagnetic layer (FL), separated by a tunnel barrier. The FL usually consists of several su...

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Main Authors: Simone Fiorentini, Johannes Ender, Siegfried Selberherr, Wolfgang Goes, Viktor Sverdlov
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: International Institute of Informatics and Cybernetics 2022-08-01
Series:Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
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Online Access:http://www.iiisci.org/Journal/PDV/sci/pdfs/SA265RK22.pdf
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author Simone Fiorentini
Johannes Ender
Siegfried Selberherr
Wolfgang Goes
Viktor Sverdlov
author_facet Simone Fiorentini
Johannes Ender
Siegfried Selberherr
Wolfgang Goes
Viktor Sverdlov
author_sort Simone Fiorentini
collection DOAJ
description Emerging spin transfer torque magnetoresistive random access memories (STT MRAM) are nonvolatile and offer high speed and endurance. MRAM cells include a fixed reference magnetic layer and a free-to-switch ferromagnetic layer (FL), separated by a tunnel barrier. The FL usually consists of several sub-layers separated by nonmagnetic buffer layers. The magnetization dynamics is governed by the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation supplemented with the corresponding torques. To accurately design MRAM cells it is necessary to evaluate the torques in composite magnetic layers, which depend on nonequilibrium spin accumulation generated by an electric current. Spin accumulation and current also depend on the magnetization. Therefore, the LLG and the spin-charge transport equations must be solved simultaneously. We apply the finite element method (FEM) to numerically solve this coupled system of partial differential equations. We follow a modular approach and use well-developed C++ FEM libraries. For the computation of the torques acting in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), a magnetization-dependent resistivity of the tunnel barrier is introduced. A fully three-dimensional solution of the equations is performed to accurately model the torques acting on the magnetization. The use of a unique set of equations for the whole memory cell is an ultimate advantage of our approach.
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id doaj-art-48447d97eee24aedba3b38abd2812470
institution OA Journals
issn 1690-4524
language English
publishDate 2022-08-01
publisher International Institute of Informatics and Cybernetics
record_format Article
series Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
spelling doaj-art-48447d97eee24aedba3b38abd28124702025-08-20T01:47:51ZengInternational Institute of Informatics and CyberneticsJournal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics1690-45242022-08-012044044Spin Transfer Torque Evaluation Based on Coupled Spin and Charge Transport: A Finite Element Method ApproachSimone FiorentiniJohannes EnderSiegfried SelberherrWolfgang GoesViktor SverdlovEmerging spin transfer torque magnetoresistive random access memories (STT MRAM) are nonvolatile and offer high speed and endurance. MRAM cells include a fixed reference magnetic layer and a free-to-switch ferromagnetic layer (FL), separated by a tunnel barrier. The FL usually consists of several sub-layers separated by nonmagnetic buffer layers. The magnetization dynamics is governed by the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert (LLG) equation supplemented with the corresponding torques. To accurately design MRAM cells it is necessary to evaluate the torques in composite magnetic layers, which depend on nonequilibrium spin accumulation generated by an electric current. Spin accumulation and current also depend on the magnetization. Therefore, the LLG and the spin-charge transport equations must be solved simultaneously. We apply the finite element method (FEM) to numerically solve this coupled system of partial differential equations. We follow a modular approach and use well-developed C++ FEM libraries. For the computation of the torques acting in a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ), a magnetization-dependent resistivity of the tunnel barrier is introduced. A fully three-dimensional solution of the equations is performed to accurately model the torques acting on the magnetization. The use of a unique set of equations for the whole memory cell is an ultimate advantage of our approach.http://www.iiisci.org/Journal/PDV/sci/pdfs/SA265RK22.pdf spin transfer torquespin accumulationspin and charge drift-diffusionfinite element methodmram
spellingShingle Simone Fiorentini
Johannes Ender
Siegfried Selberherr
Wolfgang Goes
Viktor Sverdlov
Spin Transfer Torque Evaluation Based on Coupled Spin and Charge Transport: A Finite Element Method Approach
Journal of Systemics, Cybernetics and Informatics
spin transfer torque
spin accumulation
spin and charge drift-diffusion
finite element method
mram
title Spin Transfer Torque Evaluation Based on Coupled Spin and Charge Transport: A Finite Element Method Approach
title_full Spin Transfer Torque Evaluation Based on Coupled Spin and Charge Transport: A Finite Element Method Approach
title_fullStr Spin Transfer Torque Evaluation Based on Coupled Spin and Charge Transport: A Finite Element Method Approach
title_full_unstemmed Spin Transfer Torque Evaluation Based on Coupled Spin and Charge Transport: A Finite Element Method Approach
title_short Spin Transfer Torque Evaluation Based on Coupled Spin and Charge Transport: A Finite Element Method Approach
title_sort spin transfer torque evaluation based on coupled spin and charge transport a finite element method approach
topic spin transfer torque
spin accumulation
spin and charge drift-diffusion
finite element method
mram
url http://www.iiisci.org/Journal/PDV/sci/pdfs/SA265RK22.pdf
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AT siegfriedselberherr spintransfertorqueevaluationbasedoncoupledspinandchargetransportafiniteelementmethodapproach
AT wolfganggoes spintransfertorqueevaluationbasedoncoupledspinandchargetransportafiniteelementmethodapproach
AT viktorsverdlov spintransfertorqueevaluationbasedoncoupledspinandchargetransportafiniteelementmethodapproach