Spin Valves and Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

POSTER

Abstract

This is a presentation of research conducted through the National Institute of Standards and Technology's Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship program. A spintronic device is one that uses the electron's magnetic moment (its spin) as well as its charge to perform operations, such as data storage or logic. Many of today's spintronic devices are based on the ``tunneling magnetoresistance'' effect of CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB tunnel junctions. The MgO barrier in devices must be highly uniform and only 1-2 nm thick. Relevant background, including electron spin and tunneling, is supplied. The fabrication, operation, and behavior of spin-valves and magnetic tunnel junctions are described, and applications in Hard Disk Drives, Magnetic Random Access Memory, Magnetic Field Sensors, and Spin-Torque Oscillators are discussed.

Authors

  • Kurt Iversen

    University of Portland

  • A. Knecht

    Oregon State University, University of Idaho, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, School of EECS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, Oregon Health and Science University, Linfield College, Purdue University, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Montana State University, University of British Columbia, University of Washington, Cornell University, Philipps-University, 35032 Marburg, Germany, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, Physics Department, SUNY Binghamton, Physics Department, Oregon State University, Argonne National Laboratory

  • A. Knecht

    Oregon State University, University of Idaho, Department of Chemistry, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, School of EECS, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, Oregon Health and Science University, Linfield College, Purdue University, National Institute of Standards and Technology, Montana State University, University of British Columbia, University of Washington, Cornell University, Philipps-University, 35032 Marburg, Germany, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331, Physics Department, SUNY Binghamton, Physics Department, Oregon State University, Argonne National Laboratory