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Ultrafast precessional magnetization reversal by picosecond magnetic field pulse shaping

Nature volume 418, pages 509–512 (2002)Cite this article

Abstract

Since the invention of the first magnetic memory disk in 1954, much effort has been put into enhancing the speed, bit density and reliability of magnetic memory devices. In the case of magnetic random access memory (MRAM) devices, fast coherent magnetization rotation by precession of the entire memory cell is desired1,2,3,4,5,6, because reversal by domain-wall motion is much too slow. In principle, the fundamental limit of the switching speed via precession is given by half of the precession period. However, under-critically damped systems exhibit severe ringing7,8 and simulations show that, as a consequence, undesired back-switching of magnetic elements of an MRAM can easily be initiated by subsequent write pulses, threatening data integrity. We present a method to reverse the magnetization in under-critically damped systems by coherent rotation of the magnetization while avoiding any ringing. This is achieved by applying specifically shaped magnetic field pulses that match the intrinsic properties of the magnetic elements. We demonstrate, by probing all three magnetization components9,10, that reliable precessional reversal in lithographically structured micrometre-sized elliptical permalloy elements is possible at switching times of about 200 ps, which is ten times faster than the natural damping time constant.

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Figure 1: The schematic experimental set-up.
Figure 2: Large field excitation without stopping.
Figure 3: The in-plane and polar magnetic response of the element measured on five different locations to verify coherent rotation of the whole element.
Figure 4: Switching by large-field excitation and suppression of ringing.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank all members of CTMF1 at Siemens for their collaboration, and for guidance with preparing the devices. This work was part of the research programme of the Stichting voor Fundamenteel Onderzoek der Materie (FOM) and financially supported by the Nederlandse Organisatie voor Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek (NWO), Philips Research and partly supported by the Brite Euram project Tunnel Sense.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Research Institute for Materials, University of Nijmegen, Toernooiveld 1, 6525 ED, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Th. Gerrits, H. A. M. van den Berg, J. Hohlfeld & Th. Rasing

  2. Siemens AG, CTMF 1, Paul-Gossen-Strasse 100, 91052, Erlangen, Germany

    L. Bär

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  1. Th. Gerrits
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  2. H. A. M. van den Berg
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Correspondence to Th. Rasing.

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Gerrits, T., van den Berg, H., Hohlfeld, J. et al. Ultrafast precessional magnetization reversal by picosecond magnetic field pulse shaping. Nature 418, 509–512 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1038/nature00905

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