中国物理B ›› 2009, Vol. 18 ›› Issue (2): 790-794.doi: 10.1088/1674-1056/18/2/063

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Thermally activated magnetization reversal in magnetic tunnel junctions

王寅岗1, 祁先进1, 李子全1, 陈建康1, 周广宏2   

  1. (1)School of Materials Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China; (2)School of Materials Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China;Department of Mechanical Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian 223003, China
  • 收稿日期:2008-07-24 修回日期:2008-08-29 出版日期:2009-02-20 发布日期:2009-02-20
  • 基金资助:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No 50671048).

Thermally activated magnetization reversal in magnetic tunnel junctions

Zhou Guang-Hong(周广宏)a)b), Wang Yin-Gang(王寅岗)a), Qi Xian-Jin(祁先进)a), Li Zi-Quan(李子全)a), and Chen Jian-Kang(陈建康)a)   

  1. a School of Materials Science and Technology, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing 210016, China; b Department of Mechanical Engineering, Huaiyin Institute of Technology, Huaian 223003, China
  • Received:2008-07-24 Revised:2008-08-29 Online:2009-02-20 Published:2009-02-20
  • Supported by:
    Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No 50671048).

摘要: In this paper, the magnetization reversal of the ferromagnetic layers in the IrMn/CoFe/AlOx/CoFe magnetic tunnel junction has been investigated using bulk magnetometry. The films exhibit very complex magnetization processes and reversal mechanism. Thermal activation phenomena such as the training effect, the asymmetry of reversal, the loop broadening and the decrease of exchange field while holding the film at negative saturation have been observed on the hysteresis loops of the pinned ferromagnetic layer while not on those of the free ferromagnetic layer. The thermal activation phenomena observed can be explained by the model of two energy barrier distributions with different time constants.

关键词: magnetic tunnel junctions, magnetization reversal, thermal activation, exchange coupling

Abstract: In this paper, the magnetization reversal of the ferromagnetic layers in the IrMn/CoFe/AlOx/CoFe magnetic tunnel junction has been investigated using bulk magnetometry. The films exhibit very complex magnetization processes and reversal mechanism. Thermal activation phenomena such as the training effect, the asymmetry of reversal, the loop broadening and the decrease of exchange field while holding the film at negative saturation have been observed on the hysteresis loops of the pinned ferromagnetic layer while not on those of the free ferromagnetic layer. The thermal activation phenomena observed can be explained by the model of two energy barrier distributions with different time constants.

Key words: magnetic tunnel junctions, magnetization reversal, thermal activation, exchange coupling

中图分类号:  (Magnetization reversal mechanisms)

  • 75.60.Jk
75.47.-m (Magnetotransport phenomena; materials for magnetotransport) 75.70.Cn (Magnetic properties of interfaces (multilayers, superlattices, heterostructures)) 75.60.Ej (Magnetization curves, hysteresis, Barkhausen and related effects) 75.30.Et (Exchange and superexchange interactions)