Abstract: A magnetoresistive stack includes a seed region formed above a base region, a fixed magnetic region formed above the seed region and an intermediate region positioned between the fixed magnetic region and a free magnetic region. The base region may be formed of a material having a lower standard free energy of oxidation than iron.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive memory device that stores data in the synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) included in each spin-torque memory cell provides for more robust data storage. In normal operation, the memory cells use the free portion of the memory cell for data storage. Techniques for storing data in the reference portions of memory cells are presented, where an unbalanced SAF that includes ferromagnetic layers having different magnetic moments is used to lower the switching barrier for the SAF and allow for writing data values to the SAF using lower currents and magnetic fields than would be required for a balanced SAF.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive device comprises a fixed magnetic region positioned on or over a first electrically conductive region, an intermediate layer positioned on or over the fixed magnetic region, a free magnetic region positioned on or over the intermediate layer, and a metal insertion substance positioned in contact with the free magnetic region, wherein the metal insertion substance includes one or more transition metal elements.

Abstract: Techniques for recovering preprogrammed data from non-volatile memory are provided that include majority voting and/or use of one or more levels of ECC correction. Embodiments include storage of multiple copies of the data where ECC correction is performed before and after majority voting with respect to the multiple copies. Multiple levels of ECC correction can also be performed where one level of ECC is performed at the local level (e.g. on-chip), whereas another level of ECC correction is performed at a system level.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive memory device that stores data in the synthetic antiferromagnet (SAF) included in each spin-torque memory cell provides for more robust data storage. In normal operation, the memory cells use the free portion of the memory cell for data storage. Techniques for storing data in the reference portions of memory cells are presented, where an unbalanced SAF that includes ferromagnetic layers having different magnetic moments is used to lower the switching barrier for the SAF and allow for writing data values to the SAF using lower currents and magnetic fields than would be required for a balanced SAF.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a tester includes a magnetic shield portion having a space which is shielded from an external magnetic field, a controller generating a test signal for testing a magnetic memory having a magnetoresistive element provided in the space, an interface portion in the space, the interface portion which functions as an interface between the controller and the magnetic memory, and a magnetic field generating portion in the space, the magnetic field generating portion generating a test magnetic field while the magnetic memory is tested by the test signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory includes a memory cell array including magnetoresistive elements, a heater and a temperature sensor provided in the memory cell array, a heater driver which drives the heater, a temperature detector which detects a first temperature sensed by the temperature sensor, and a control circuit which controls the heater driver based on the first temperature.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array. The memory cell array has a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) elements. Each of the MTJ elements has a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer and a non-magnetic layer therebetween, and a hard mask layer is arranged above the second magnetic layer. The plurality of MTJ elements have a first MTJ element having a first hard mask layer and a second MTJ element having a second hard mask layer, and a dimension of, the first hard mask layer is greater than that of the second hard mask layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic storage device includes an insulating region, a lower electrode including a first portion formed in a hole provided in the insulating region and a second portion protruded from the insulating region, a spacer insulating film formed on a side surface of at least the second portion of the lower electrode, a magnetic tunneling junction portion formed on a top surface of the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the magnetic tunneling junction portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array. The memory cell array has a plurality of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) elements. Each of the MTJ elements has a first magnetic layer, a second magnetic layer and a non-magnetic layer therebetween, and a hard mask layer is arranged above the second magnetic layer. The plurality of MTJ elements have a first MTJ element having a first hard mask layer and a second MTJ element having a second hard mask layer, and a dimension of, the first hard mask layer is greater than that of the second hard mask layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a tester includes a magnetic shield portion having a space which is shielded from an external magnetic field, a controller generating a test signal for testing a magnetic memory having a magnetoresistive element provided in the space, an interface portion in the space, the interface portion which functions as an interface between the controller and the magnetic memory, and a magnetic field generating portion in the space, the magnetic field generating portion generating a test magnetic field while the magnetic memory is tested by the test signal.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element comprises a first magnetic layer, in which a magnetization direction is variable and is perpendicular to a film surface, a tunnel barrier layer that is formed on the first magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer that is formed on the tunnel barrier layer, a magnetization direction of the second magnetic layer being variable and being perpendicular to the film surface. The second magnetic layer comprises a body layer that constitutes an origin of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and an interface layer that is formed between the body layer and the tunnel barrier layer. The interface layer has a permeability higher than that of the body layer and a planar size larger than that of the body layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic storage device includes an insulating region, a lower electrode including a first portion formed in a hole provided in the insulating region and a second portion protruded from the insulating region, a spacer insulating film formed on a side surface of at least the second portion of the lower electrode, a magnetic tunneling junction portion formed on a top surface of the lower electrode, and an upper electrode formed on the magnetic tunneling junction portion.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory element includes a memory layer, a first nonmagnetic layer, a reference layer, a second nonmagnetic layer, and an adjustment layer which are stacked. The adjustment layer is configured to reduce a leakage magnetic field from the reference layer. The adjustment layer is formed by stacking an interface layer provided on the second nonmagnetic layer, and a magnetic layer having magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a film surface. Saturation magnetization of the interface layer is larger than that of the magnetic layer.

Abstract: A magnetic memory includes a magnetoresistive element. The magnetoresistive element includes a reference layer having an invariable magnetization direction, a storage layer having a variable magnetization direction, and a spacer layer provided between the reference layer and the storage layer. The storage layer has a multilayered structure including first and second magnetic layers, the second magnetic layer is provided between the first magnetic layer and the spacer layer and has a magnetic anisotropy energy lower than that of the first magnetic layer, and an exchange coupling constant Jex between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer is not more than 5 erg/cm2.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect memory of an aspect of the present invention including a magnetoresistive effect element including a first magnetic layer having an invariable magnetization direction, a second magnetic layer having a variable magnetization direction, and an interlayer provided between the first magnetic layer and the second magnetic layer, and a reading circuit which passes a pulse-shaped read current through the magnetoresistive effect element to read data stored in the magnetoresistive effect element, wherein the pulse width of the read current is shorter than a period from an initial state to a cooperative coherent precession movement of magnetizations included in the second magnetic layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory element includes a memory layer, a first nonmagnetic layer, a reference layer, a second nonmagnetic layer, and an adjustment layer which are stacked. The adjustment layer is configured to reduce a leakage magnetic field from the reference layer. The adjustment layer is formed by stacking an interface layer provided on the second nonmagnetic layer, and a magnetic layer having magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a film surface. Saturation magnetization of the interface layer is larger than that of the magnetic layer.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive element comprises a first magnetic layer, in which a magnetization direction is variable and is perpendicular to a film surface, a tunnel barrier layer that is formed on the first magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer that is formed on the tunnel barrier layer, a magnetization direction of the second magnetic layer being variable and being perpendicular to the film surface. The second magnetic layer comprises a body layer that constitutes an origin of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, and an interface layer that is formed between the body layer and the tunnel barrier layer. The interface layer has a permeability higher than that of the body layer and a planar size larger than that of the body layer.

Abstract: A magnetoresistive effect element includes a reference layer, a recording layer, and a nonmagnetic layer. The reference layer is made of a magnetic material, has an invariable magnetization which is perpendicular to a film surface. The recording layer is made of a magnetic material, has a variable magnetization which is perpendicular to the film surface. The nonmagnetic layer is arranged between the reference layer and the recording layer. A critical diameter which is determined by magnetic anisotropy, saturation magnetization, and switched connection of the recording layer and has a single-domain state as a unique stable state or a critical diameter which has a single-domain state as a unique stable state and is inverted while keeping the single-domain state in an inverting process is larger than an element diameter of the magnetoresistive effect element.

Abstract: A magneto-resistive element according to an aspect of the present invention includes a free layer whose magnetized state changes and a pinned layer whose magnetized state is fixed. The free layer comprises first and second ferromagnetic layers and a non-magnetic layer which is arranged between the first and second ferromagnetic layers. An intensity of exchange coupling between the first and second ferromagnetic layers is set so that an astroid curve in a hard axis direction opens.