MAGNETIC MEMORY DEVICE AND METHOD OF WRITING MAGNETIC MEMORY DEVICE
Embodiments provide a magnetic memory device and a method of writing a magnetic memory device. The magnetic memory device includes a magnetic tunnel junction including a reference layer, a free layer and a tunnel barrier layer between the reference and free layers, and a first conductive line adjacent to the free layer. A first spin-orbit current having a frequency decreasing with time flows through the first conductive line. The writing method includes applying the first spin-orbit current having the frequency decreasing with time to the first conductive line.
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Korean Patent Application No. 10-2016-0160756, filed on Nov. 29, 2016, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, and entitled: Magnetic Memory Device and Method of Writing Magnetic Memory Device, is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
BACKGROUND 1. FieldEmbodiments of relate to a magnetic memory device and, more particularly, to a magnetic memory device using spin-orbit torque.
2. Description of the Related ArtHigh-speed and low-voltage memory devices have been demanded to realize high-speed and low-power electronic devices including memory devices. A magnetic memory device has been studied as a memory device satisfying these demands. The magnetic memory device has been spotlighted as a next-generation memory device because of its high-speed operation characteristic and/or non-volatile characteristic.
The magnetic memory device uses a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). The magnetic tunnel junction may include two magnetic layers and a tunnel barrier layer disposed between the two magnetic layers, and a resistance of the magnetic tunnel junction may be changed according to relative directions of magnetic moments of the two magnetic layers. The magnetic tunnel junction may have a high resistance when the directions of the magnetic moments of the two magnetic layers are anti-parallel to each other. On the contrary, the magnetic tunnel junction may have a low resistance when the directions of the magnetic moments of the two magnetic layers are parallel to each other. The magnetic memory device may write/sense data by using a difference between the resistances of the magnetic tunnel junction.
SUMMARYIn an aspect, a method of writing a magnetic memory device may include applying a first spin-orbit current having a frequency decreasing with time to a first conductive line in the magnetic memory device. The magnetic memory device may further include a magnetic tunnel junction including a free layer, a reference layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the free layer and the reference layer. The first conductive line may be adjacent to the free layer.
In an aspect, a method of writing a magnetic memory device may include applying a first spin-orbit current to a first conductive line in the magnetic memory device. The magnetic memory device may further include a magnetic tunnel junction including a free layer, a reference layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the free layer and the reference layer. The first conductive line may be adjacent to the free layer.
In an aspect, a magnetic memory device may include a magnetic tunnel junction including a free layer, a reference layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the free layer and the reference layer, and a first conductive line adjacent to the free layer. A first spin-orbit current having a frequency decreasing with time may flow through the first conductive line. Applying the first spin-orbit current may generate at least two resonances at which a frequency of the first spin-orbit current coincides with a natural frequency of a magnetic moment of the free layer,
In an aspect, a method of writing a magnetic memory device including a magnetic tunnel junction having a free layer, a reference layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the free layer and the reference layer, and a first conductive line adjacent to the free layer. The method may include applying a first spin-orbit current including initially applying the first spin-orbit current having an initial frequency at a first time to the first conductive line and subsequently applying the first spin-orbit current having a subsequent frequency, less than the initial frequency, at a second time to the first conductive line, the second time after the first time.
Features will become apparent to those of skill in the art by describing in detail exemplary embodiments with reference to the attached drawings in which:
Hereinafter, embodiments will be described on the basis of current understanding of spin-orbit interaction, spin-orbit torque, spin-transfer torque, and other physical phenomena. Thus, those of skill in the art will easily recognize that theoretical explanations of the operations of embodiments are based on the current understanding of these physical phenomena. However, embodiments are not dependent on specific physical explanation.
Hereinafter, it will be understood that, when a component is in-plane”, it may substantially exist in a plane (or surface) of a layer or a line or may be parallel to the plane (or surface). Furthermore, the term en a component is in-plane”, it may substantially exist in a plane (or surface) of a la plane (or surface) of a layer or a line.
Referring to
The reference layer RL may have a magnetic moment fixed during a writing operation of the magnetic memory device 100. For example, the magnetic moment of the reference layer RL may not be switched by a spin-orbit torque generated by a spin-orbit current JSO flowing through the conductive line CL and/or a spin-transfer torque generated by a spin-transfer current JSTT passing through the magnetic tunnel junction MTJ.
The free layer FL may have a switchable magnetic moment during the writing operation of the magnetic memory device 100. For example, the free layer FL may have the magnetic moment which can be switched to be parallel or anti-parallel to the magnetic moment of the reference layer RL. In some embodiments, the magnetic moment of the free layer FL may be switched using at least the spin-orbit torque generated by the spin-orbit current JSO flowing through the conductive line CL. For example, the magnetic moment of the free layer FL may be switched using only the spin-orbit torque generated by the spin-orbit current JSO. Alternatively, the magnetic moment of the free layer FL may be switched using the spin-orbit torque and the spin-transfer torque generated by the spin-transfer current JSTT passing through the magnetic tunnel junction MTJ. The spin-orbit current JSO, the spin-orbit torque, the spin-transfer current JSTT, and the spin-transfer torque will be described below in more detail.
Each of the reference layer RL and the free layer FL may have an easy axis that is substantially perpendicular to a planar surface thereof. For example, the surface of the reference layer RL may be parallel to an xy-plane and the easy axis of the reference layer RL may be substantially parallel to a z-axis. Likewise, the surface of the free layer FL may be parallel to the xy-plane and the easy axis of the free layer FL may be substantially parallel to the z-axis. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.
In some embodiments, each of the reference layer RL and the free layer FL may include at least one of a material having a L10 crystal structure, a material having a hexagonal close packed (HCP) lattice, or an amorphous rare-earth transition metal (RE-TM) alloy. In an example, each of the reference layer RL and the free layer FL may include at least one of the materials having the L10 crystal structure, such as Fe50Pt50, Fe50Pd50, Co50Pt50, Co50Pd50, and Fe50Ni50. In an example, each of the reference layer RL and the free layer FL may include at least one of the materials having the HCP lattice, such as a cobalt-platinum (CoPt) disordered alloy having a platinum (Pt) content of 10 at. % to 45 at. %, and a Co3Pt ordered alloy. In an example, each of the reference layer RL and the free layer FL may include the amorphous RE-TM alloy including at least one of a rare-earth element group of terbium (Tb), dysprosium (Dy), and gadolinium (Gd), and at least one selected from a transition metal element group of iron (Fe), cobalt (Co) and nickel (Ni).
In certain embodiments, each of the reference layer RL and the free layer FL may include a material having interface perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. The term rinterface perpendicular magnetic anisotropy”meansace p a phenomenon that a magnetic layer having an intrinsic horizontal magnetization property has a perpendicular magnetization direction by an influence of an interface between the magnetic layer and another layer adjacent to the magnetic layer. In this case, each of the reference layer RL and the free layer FL may include at least one of Co, Fe, or Ni. In addition, each of the reference layer RL and the free layer FL may further include at least one selected from non-magnetic materials including boron (B), zinc (Zn), aluminum (Al), titanium (Ti), ruthenium (Ru), tantalum (Ta), silicon (Si), silver (Ag), gold (Au), copper (Cu), carbon (C), and nitrogen (N). For example, each of the reference layer RL and the free layer FL may include CoFe or NiFe and may further include B. In addition, each of the reference layer RL and the free layer FL may further include at least one of Ti, Al, Si, magnesium (Mg), or Ta.
In some embodiments, the reference layer RL may have a single-layered structure, as illustrated in
The tunnel barrier layer TBL may be provided between the reference layer RL and the free layer FL. The tunnel barrier layer TBL may include at least one of magnesium oxide (MgO), titanium oxide (TiO), aluminum oxide (AlO), magnesium-zinc oxide (MgZnO), magnesium-boron oxide (MgBO), titanium nitride (TiN), or vanadium nitride (VN). For example, the tunnel barrier layer TBL may include crystalline magnesium oxide (MgO).
The conductive line CL may be provided to be adjacent to the free layer FL of the magnetic tunnel junction MTJ. The conductive line CL may have a line shape extending in a first direction, e.g., an x-direction, and the magnetic tunnel junction MTJ may be on a first surface, e.g., a planar surface, of the conductive line CL. Thus, the free layer FL may be between the tunnel barrier layer TBL and the first surface of the conductive line CL.
The conductive line CL may include a material showing a strong spin-orbit interaction. For example, the conductive line CL may include at least one of copper (Cu), tantalum (Ta), platinum (Pt), tungsten (W), gadolinium (Gd), bismuth (Bi), or iridium (Ir).
The magnetic memory device 100 may be configured such that the spin-orbit current JSO flows through the conductive line CL. For example, the spin-orbit current JSO may be a current flowing in a plane of the conductive line CL. When the spin-orbit current JSO flows through the conductive line CL, charge carriers having polarized spins may be provided into the free layer FL. For example, when the spin-orbit current JSO flows in the x-direction or a −x-direction, the charge carriers having the spins polarized in a y-direction or a −y-direction may be provided into the free layer FL. This may be due to a spin-orbit interaction (e.g., a spin hole effect) occurring in the conductive line CL. The charge carriers having these polarized spins may apply torque to the magnetic moment of the free layer FL. In the present specification, the torque applied to the magnetic moment of the free layer FL due to the spin-orbit current JSO is defined as the spin-orbit torque.
In some embodiments, the magnetic memory device 100 may be configured to flow the spin-transfer current JSTT passing through the magnetic tunnel junction MTJ. When the spin-transfer current JSTT flows through the magnetic tunnel junction MTJ, charge carriers having spins polarized in a direction parallel or anti-parallel to the magnetic moment of the reference layer RL may be provided into the free layer FL. For example, when the reference layer RL has the magnetic moment in a z-direction or a −z-direction, the charge carriers having the spins polarized in the z-direction or the −z-direction may be provided into the free layer FL when the spin-transfer current JSTT flows. The charge carriers having these polarized spins may apply torque to the magnetic moment of the free layer FL. In the present specification, the torque applied to the magnetic moment of the free layer FL due to the spin-transfer current JSTT is defined as the spin-transfer torque.
Referring further to
When the spin-orbit current JSO described above flows in the conductive line CL, the spins SP1 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL may oscillate in the y-direction or the −y-direction as illustrated in
Referring further to
When the frequencies of the spins SP1 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL (i.e., the frequency of the spin-orbit current JSO) coincide with (or are similar to) a natural frequency of the precessing magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL, resonance may occur. Thus, a rotation angle s of the precessional motion (i.e., an angle between the easy axis and the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL) may increase rapidly, and a z-component m, of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may decrease rapidly. For example, the precessional motion of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be changed from a state illustrated in
The natural frequency of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be represented by the following equation 1.
In the equation 1, layer FL may be represented by the following precessing magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL, ent M represented by the following equation 1Keff″ff the free layer FL, ent M represented by the following equation 1. layer FL, ″Ms″ff the free layer FL, ent M represented by the following equatimz″ff the free laycomponent mz of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL.
Referring to the equation 1, the natural frequency lowing equation 1. layer FFL of the free layer FL is proportional to the z-component mz of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL. Thus, when the z-component mz of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL in which the resonance occurs is reduced, the natural frequency lustrated in
If a direct current or an alternating current having a constant frequency flows through the conductive line CL, the resonance does not occur again between the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL and the spins SP1 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL after the resonance therebetween is broken. However, by altering the frequency of the spin-orbit current JSO according to some embodiments, the resonance may repeatedly occur at least two times between the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL and the spins SP1 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL, e.g., at least two resonances may be realized.
In more detail, referring further to
The natural frequency of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be smaller than the frequencies of the spins SP1 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL (i.e., the frequency of the spin-orbit current JSO) between the resonances between the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL and the spins SP1 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL. In addition, to generate the first resonance, an initial frequency of the spin-orbit current JSO , e.g., when the spin-orbit current starts, may be equal to or greater than an initial natural frequency of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL when the spin-orbit current JSO is initially applied.
According to some embodiments, the writing operation of the magnetic memory device 100 may be performed using at least the spin-orbit torque due to the spin-orbit current JSO flowing through the conductive line CL. In other words, the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be switched using at least the spin-orbit torque due to the spin-orbit current JSO flowing through the conductive line CL.
In some embodiments, the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be switched using only the spin-orbit torque due to the spin-orbit current JSO. According to some embodiments, since the resonance between the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL and the spins SP1 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL repeatedly occurs at least two times, a critical magnitude of the spin-orbit current JSO required to switch the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be relatively small, e.g., may be less than that for which only a single resonance occurs.
In certain embodiments, the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be switched using both the spin-orbit torque due to the spin-orbit current JSO and the spin-transfer torque due to the spin-transfer current JSTT. The spin-orbit current JSO and the spin-transfer current JSTT may be applied at the same time for at least a certain, e.g., predetermined, period of time. In some embodiments, the spin-orbit current JSO may be applied prior to the spin-transfer current JSTT. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.
Since the spin-orbit torque is due to the spins polarized in the y-direction or the −y-direction, the strength of the spin-orbit torque applied to the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may increase as the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL becomes closer to the z-direction or the −z-direction. On the other hand, since the spin-transfer torque is due to the spins polarized in the z-direction or the −z-direction, the strength of the spin-transfer torque applied to the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may increase as the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL becomes closer to the xy plane. In other words, the spin-orbit torque may be more efficient or effective to switch the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL when the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL is closer to the z-direction or the −z-direction, while the spin-transfer torque may be more efficient or effective to switch the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL when the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL is closer to the xy plane.
Thus, in an initial stage of the switching operation, the spin-orbit torque may act as main switching torque to tilt the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL toward the xy plane. According to some embodiments, since the resonance between the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL and the spins SP1 of the charge carriers repeatedly occurs at least two times, the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be effectively tilted toward the xy plane by using the spin-orbit current JSO having a relatively small magnitude. Thereafter, when the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL is closer to the xy plane, the spin-transfer torque may act as main switching torque to finally switch the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL.
Referring to
The first conductive line CL1 may have a line shape extending in an x-direction. The second conductive line CL2 may have a line shape intersecting the first conductive line CL1. For example, the second conductive line CL2 may have a line shape extending in a y-direction.
The first conductive line CL1 and the second conductive line CL2 may cross each other at one portion and may be connected to each other. For example, the first conductive line CL1 and the second conductive line CL2 may be disposed in the same plane (i.e., an xy plane).
The magnetic tunnel junction MTJ may be on the intersecting portion of the first and second conductive lines CL1 and CL2. The free layer FL of the magnetic tunnel junction MTJ may be adjacent to the crossing point of the first and second conductive lines CL1 and CL2. Thus, the free layer FL may be between the tunnel barrier layer TBL and the intersecting portion of the first and second conductive lines CL1 and CL2.
Each of the first and second conductive lines CL1 and CL2 may include a material showing a strong spin-orbit interaction. For example, each of the first and second conductive lines CL1 and CL2 may include at least one of Cu, Ta, Pt, W, Gd, Bi, or Ir.
The magnetic memory device 101 may be configured to flow a first spin-orbit current JSO1 in the first conductive line CL1 and to flow a second spin-orbit current JSO2 in the second conductive line CL2. For example, the first spin-orbit current JSO1 may be a current flowing in a plane of the first conductive line CL1, and the second spin-orbit current JSO2 may be a current flowing in a plane of the second conductive line CL2.
When the first spin-orbit current JSO1 flows in the x-direction or a −x-direction, charge carriers having spins polarized in the y-direction or a −y-direction may be provided into the free layer FL. When the second spin-orbit current JSO2 flows in the y-direction or the −y-direction, charge carriers having spins polarized in the x-direction or the −x-direction may be provided into the free layer FL. This may be due to a spin-orbit interaction (e.g., a spin hole effect) occurring in the conductive line CL1 or CL2. The charge carriers having these polarized spins may apply torque to the magnetic moment of the free layer FL.
In some embodiments, the magnetic memory device 101 may be configured to flow the spin-transfer current JSTT passing through the magnetic tunnel junction MTJ. When the spin-transfer current JSTT flows through the magnetic tunnel junction MTJ, charge carriers having spins polarized in a direction parallel or anti-parallel to the magnetic moment of the reference layer RL may be provided into the free layer FL. For example, in a case in which the reference layer RL has the magnetic moment in a z-direction or a −z-direction, the charge carriers having the spins polarized in the z-direction or the −z-direction may be provided into the free layer FL when the spin-transfer current JSTT flows. The charge carriers having these polarized spins may apply torque to the magnetic moment of the free layer FL.
Referring further to
When the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2 described above flow. spins SP2 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL may oscillate (or rotate) in the xy plane, and frequencies of the oscillating (or rotating) spins SP2 may be equal to the frequencies of the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2. Thus, the frequencies of the spins SP2 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL may gradually decrease with time. For example, the spins SP2 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL may circularly rotate in the xy plane as illustrated in
As described with reference to
When the frequencies of the spins SP2 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL (i.e., the frequencies of the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2) coincide with (or are similar to) the natural frequency of the precessing magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL, resonance may occur. Thus, the rotation angle ssing magprecessional motion may increase rapidly, and the z-component mz of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may decrease rapidly. For example, the precessional motion of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be changed from the state illustrated in
Since the natural frequency of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL is proportional to the z-component mz of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL as described with reference to the equation 1, the natural frequency of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be reduced by the occurrence of the resonance. As a result, the frequencies of the spins SP2 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL (i.e., the frequencies of the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2) may become different from the natural frequency of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL, and thus the resonance is broken.
However, since the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2 have the frequencies decreasing with time as described with reference to
The natural frequency of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be smaller than the frequencies of the spins SP2 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL (i.e., the frequencies of the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2) between the resonances. In addition, to generate the first resonance, initial frequencies of the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2 may be equal to or greater than the initial natural frequency of the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL.
According to some embodiments, a writing operation of the magnetic memory device 101 may be performed using at least the spin-orbit torque due to the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2 flowing through the first and second conductive lines CL1 and CL2. In other words, the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be switched using at least the spin-orbit torque due to the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2 flowing through the first and second conductive lines CL1 and CL2.
In some embodiments, the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be switched using only the spin-orbit torque due to the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2. According to some embodiments, since the resonance between the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL and the spins SP2 of the charge carriers provided into the free layer FL repeatedly occurs at least two times, critical magnitudes of the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2 required to switch the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be relatively small, e.g., may be less than that for which only a single resonance occurs.
In certain embodiments, the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be switched using both the spin-orbit torque due to the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2 and the spin-transfer torque due to the spin-transfer current JSTT. The first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2 and the spin-transfer current JSTT may be applied at the same time for at least a certain period of time. In some embodiments, the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2 may be applied prior to the spin-transfer current JSTT. However, embodiments are not limited thereto.
In the present embodiment, in an initial stage of the switching operation, the spin-orbit torque may act as main switching torque to tilt the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL toward the xy plane. According to some embodiments, since the resonance between the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL and the spins SP2 of the charge carriers repeatedly occurs at least two times, the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL may be effectively tilted toward the xy plane by using the first and second spin-orbit currents JSO1 and JSO2 having the relatively small magnitudes. Thereafter, when the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL is closer to the xy plane, the spin-transfer torque may act as main switching torque to finally switch the magnetic moment MFL of the free layer FL.
In detail,
Except for the structure of the conductive line(s), the current applied to the conductive line(s), the external magnetic field and/or the spin-transfer conductive line described above, other conditions of
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Comparing
Comparing
According to some embodiments, the method of writing the magnetic memory device may be performed using at least the spin-orbit current flowing through the conductive line having a decreasing frequency. Thus, the magnitude of the spin-orbit current required during the writing operation of the magnetic memory device may be relatively small, e.g., may be less than that for which only a single resonance occurs.
Example embodiments have been disclosed herein, and although specific terms are employed, they are used and are to be interpreted in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purpose of limitation. In some instances, as would be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art as of the filing of the present application, features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with a particular embodiment may be used singly or in combination with features, characteristics, and/or elements described in connection with other embodiments unless otherwise specifically indicated. Accordingly, it will be understood by those of skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A method of writing a magnetic memory device including a magnetic tunnel junction having a free layer, a reference layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the free layer and the reference layer, and a first conductive line adjacent to the free layer, the method comprising:
- applying a first spin-orbit current having a frequency decreasing with time to the first conductive line.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- the magnetic tunnel junction is on a first surface of the first conductive line, and
- the free layer is between the tunnel barrier layer and the first surface of the first conductive line.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein applying the first spin-orbit current applies a spin-orbit torque to a magnetic moment of the free layer.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein:
- the first spin-orbit current has an initial frequency when applying the first spin-orbit current starts,
- a magnetic moment of the free layer has an initial natural frequency when applying the first spin-orbit current starts, and
- the initial frequency of the first spin-orbit current is equal to or greater than the initial natural frequency of the magnetic moment of the free layer.
5. (canceled)
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein applying the first spin-orbit current generates at least two resonances at which a frequency of the first spin-orbit current coincides with a natural frequency of a magnetic moment of the free layer.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the frequency of the first spin-orbit current is greater than the natural frequency of the magnetic moment of the free layer between the at least two resonances.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
- applying a spin-transfer current passing through the magnetic tunnel junction.
9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spin-transfer current is applied after the applying of the first spin-orbit current.
10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the spin-transfer current and the first spin-orbit current are applied at the same time for at least a certain period of time.
11.-12. (canceled)
13. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the magnetic memory device further comprises: a second conductive line intersecting the first conductive line, the method further comprising:
- applying a second spin-orbit current having a frequency decreasing with time to the second conductive line.
14. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the magnetic tunnel junction is disposed on a crossing point of the first and second conductive lines.
15. The method as claimed in claim 13, wherein the frequency of the first spin-orbit current is equal to the frequency of the second spin-orbit current.
16. (canceled)
17. A method as claimed in writing a magnetic memory device including a magnetic tunnel junction having a free layer, a reference layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the free layer and the reference layer, and a first conductive line adjacent to the free layer, the method comprising:
- applying a first spin-orbit current to a first conductive line in the magnetic memory device, wherein applying the first spin-orbit current generates at least two resonances at which a frequency of the first spin-orbit current coincides with a natural frequency of a magnetic moment of the free layer.
18. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the frequency of the first spin-orbit current is greater than the natural frequency of the magnetic moment of the free layer between the at least two resonances.
19.-20. (canceled)
21. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein:
- the first spin-orbit current has an initial frequency when applying the first spin-orbit current starts,
- the magnetic moment of the free layer has an initial natural frequency when the applying of the first spin-orbit current starts, and
- the initial frequency of the first spin-orbit current is equal to or greater than the initial natural frequency of the magnetic moment of the free layer.
22. (canceled)
23. The method as claimed in claim 17, wherein the magnetic memory device further includes a second conductive line intersecting the first conductive line, the method further comprising:
- applying a second spin-orbit current to the second conductive line.
24.-34. (canceled)
35. A method of writing a magnetic memory device including a magnetic tunnel junction having a free layer, a reference layer, and a tunnel barrier layer between the free layer and the reference layer, and a first conductive line adjacent to the free layer, the method comprising:
- applying a first spin-orbit current including initially applying the first spin-orbit current having an initial frequency at a first time to the first conductive line; and subsequently applying the first spin-orbit current having a subsequent frequency, less than the initial frequency, at a second time to the first conductive line, the second time after the first time.
36. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein:
- a magnetic moment of the free layer has an initial natural frequency when applying the first spin-orbit current starts, and
- the initial frequency of the first spin-orbit current is equal to or greater than the initial natural frequency of the magnetic moment of the free layer.
37. The method as claimed in claim 35, further comprising:
- applying a spin-transfer current passing through the magnetic tunnel junction.
38. The method as claimed in claim 35, wherein applying the first spin-orbit current generates at least two resonances at which a frequency of the first spin-orbit current coincides with a natural frequency of a magnetic moment of the free layer.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 25, 2017
Publication Date: May 31, 2018
Applicant: KOREA UNIVERSITY Research and Business Foundation (Seoul)
Inventors: Woo Chang LIM (Seongnam-si), Kyung-Jin LEE (Seoul), Gyungchoon GO (Seoul), Seung-Jae LEE (Seoul)
Application Number: 15/659,283