Metallic magnetic memory devices for cryogenic operation and methods of operating the same
A MRAM device includes a spin valve containing a reference layer having a fixed magnetization direction, a free layer, and a nonmagnetic metallic barrier layer located between the reference layer and the free layer, a metallic assist structure configured to provide rotating spin transfer torque to the free layer to assist the free layer switching during programming, and a first nonmagnetic metallic spacer layer located between the free layer and the metallic assist structure.
1. A MRAM device, comprising:
a spin valve comprising a reference layer having a fixed magnetization direction, a free layer, and a nonmagnetic metallic barrier layer located between the reference layer and the free layer;
a metallic assist structure configured to provide rotating spin transfer torque to the free layer to assist the free layer switching during programming; and
a first nonmagnetic metallic spacer layer located between the free layer and the metallic assist structure;
wherein the metallic assist structure comprises a negative-magnetic-anisotropy assist layer which comprises a multilayer stack including multiple repetitions of a first magnetic material layer and a second magnetic material layer.
2. The MRAM device of claim 1 , wherein:
the first magnetic material layer comprises cobalt; and
the second magnetic material layer comprises iron.
3. The MRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein the metallic assist structure comprises a spin torque oscillator stack.
4. The MRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein the nonmagnetic metallic barrier layer comprises a material selected from Cu, Ag, AgSn, Cr, Ge, Ta, TaN, or CuN.
5. The MRAM cell of claim 1 , wherein the MRAM cell does not contain any electrically insulating layers, and the MRAM cell is configured to be operated at a temperature below 77 degrees Kelvin.