Current-Induced Magnetization Switching in MgO Barrier Based Magnetic Tunnel Junctions with CoFeB/Ru/CoFeB Synthetic Ferrimagnetic Free Layer

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
We report the intrinsic critical current density (Jc0) in current-induced magnetization switching and the thermal stability factor (E/kBT, where E, kB, and T are the energy potential, the Boltzmann constant, and temperature, respectively) in MgO based magnetic tunnel junctions with a Co40Fe40B20(2 nm)/Ru(0.7–2.4 nm)/Co40Fe40B20(2 nm) synthetic ferrimagnetic (SyF) free layer. We show that Jc0 and E/kBT can be determined by analyzing the average critical current density as a function of coercivity using the Slonczewski's model taking into account thermal fluctuation. We find that high antiferromagnetic coupling between the two CoFeB layers in a SyF free layer results in reduced Jc0 without reducing high E/kBT.