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The recent demonstration of neuromorphic computing with spin-torque nano-oscillators has opened a path to energy efficient data processing. The success of this demonstration hinged on the intrinsic short-term memory of the oscillators. In this study, we extend the memory of the spin-torque nano-oscillators through time-delayed feedback. We leverage this extrinsic memory to increase the efficiency of solving pattern recognition tasks that require memory to discriminate different inputs. The large tunability of these non-linear oscillators allows us to control and optimize the delayed feedback memory using different operating conditions of applied current and magnetic field.

Fabricating powerful neuromorphic chips the size of a thumb requires miniaturizing their basic units: synapses and neurons. The challenge for neurons is to scale them down to submicrometer diameters while maintaining the properties that allow for reliable information processing: high signal to noise ratio, endurance, stability, reproducibility. In this work, we show that compact spin-torque nano-oscillators can naturally implement such neurons, and quantify their ability to realize an actual cognitive task. In particular, we show that they can naturally implement reservoir computing with high performance and detail the recipes for this capability.

Can we build small neuromorphic chips capable of training deep networks with billions of parameters? This challenge requires hardware neurons and synapses with nanometric dimensions, which can be individually tuned, and densely connected. While nanosynaptic devices have been pursued actively in recent years, much less has been done on nanoscale artificial neurons. In this paper, we show that spintronic nano-oscillators are promising to implement analog hardware neurons that can be densely interconnected through electromagnetic signals. We show how spintronic oscillators maps the requirements of artificial neurons. We then show experimentally how an ensemble of four coupled oscillators can learn to classify all twelve American vowels, realizing the most complicated tasks performed by nanoscale neurons.

We investigated the dynamics of a novel design of spin torque oscillator (STO) for microwave assisted magnetic recording. Using Ni$_{80}$Fe$_{20}$ (NiFe) as the polarizer and Fe$_{67}$Co$_{33}$ (FeCo) as the field generating layer, we experimentally observed the magnetization reversal of NiFe, followed by multiple signals in the power spectra as the bias voltage increased. The signals reflected the out-of-plane precession (OPP) mode oscillation of both FeCo and NiFe, as well as the magnetoresistance effect of the STO device, which had the frequency equal to the difference between the oscillation frequency of NiFe and FeCo. Such dynamics were reproduced by micromagnetic simulation. In addition to the merit of realizing the OPP mode oscillation with a simple and thin structure suitable for a narrow gap recording head, the experimental results using this design suggested that a large cone angle of $\sim$ 70$^{\circ}$ for the OPP mode oscillation of FeCo was achieved, which was estimated based on the macrospin model., Comment: 12 pages, 6 figures

In this article we demonstrate the injection locking of recently demonstrated spintronic feedback nano oscillator to microwave magnetic fields at integers as well fractional multiples of its auto oscillation frequency. Feedback oscillators have delay as a new degree of freedom which is absent for spin-transfer torque based oscillators, which gives rise to side peaks along with a main peak. We show that it is also possible to lock the oscillator on its side band peaks, which opens a new avenue to phase locked oscillators with large frequency differences. We observe that for low driving fields, side band locking improves the quality factor of the main peak, whereas for higher driving fields the main peak is suppressed. Further, measurements at two field angles provide some insight into the role of symmetry of oscillation orbit in determining the fractional locking., Comment: 16 pages, 6 figure(Manuscript), 3 figure( supplementary information),Accepted ( Physical Review Applied)

The mutual interaction between the different eigenmodes of a spin-torque oscillator can lead to a large variety of physical mechanisms from mode hopping to multi-mode generation, that usually reduce their performances as radio-frequency devices. To tackle this issue for the future applications, we investigate the properties of a model spin-torque oscillator that is composed of two coupled vortices with one vortex in each of the two magnetic layers of the oscillator. In such double-vortex system, the remarkable properties of energy transfer between the coupled modes, one being excited by spin transfer torque while the second one being damped, result into an alteration of the damping parameters. As a consequence, the oscillator nonlinear behavior is concomitantly drastically impacted. This efficient coupling mechanism, driven mainly by the dynamic dipolar field generated by the spin transfer torque induced motion of the vortices, gives rise to an unexpected dynamical regime of self-resonance excitation. These results show that mode coupling can be leveraged for controlling the synchronization process as well as the frequency tunability of spin-torque oscillators., Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures

The transfer of spin angular momentum to a nanomagnet from a spin polarized current provides an efficient means of controlling the magnetization direction in nanomagnets. A unique consequence of this spin torque is that the spontaneous oscillations of the magnetization can be induced by applying a combination of a dc bias current and a magnetic field. Here we experimentally demonstrate a different effect, which can drive a nanomagnet into spontaneous oscillations without the need of external spin torque injection. For the demonstration of this effect, we use a nano-pillar of magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) powered by a dc current and connected to a coplanar waveguide (CPW) lying above the free layer of the MTJ. Any fluctuation of the free layer magnetization is converted into oscillating voltage via the tunneling magneto-resistance effect and is fed back into the MTJ by the CPW through inductive coupling. As a result of this feedback, the magnetization of the free layer can be driven into a continual precession. The combination of MTJ and CPW behaves similar to a laser system and outputs a stable rf power with quality factor exceeding 10,000., Comment: 15 Pages, 6 Figures

When fabricating magnetic memories, one of the main challenges is to maintain the bit stability while downscaling. Indeed, for magnetic volumes of a few thousand nm3, the energy barrier between magnetic configurations becomes comparable to the thermal energy at room temperature. Then, switches of the magnetization spontaneously occur. These volatile, superparamagnetic nanomagnets are generally considered useless. But what if we could use them as low power computational building blocks? Remarkably, they can oscillate without the need of any external dc drive, and despite their stochastic nature, they can beat in unison with an external periodic signal. Here we show that the phase locking of superparamagnetic tunnel junctions can be induced and suppressed by electrical noise injection. We develop a comprehensive model giving the conditions for synchronization, and predict that it can be achieved with a total energy cost lower than 10-^13 J. Our results open the path to ultra-low power computation based on the controlled synchronization of oscillators., Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures

The concept of spin torque driven high frequency magnetization dynamics has opened up the field of spintronics to non-linear physics, potentially in complex networks of dynamical systems. In the scarce demonstrations of synchronized spin-torque oscillators, the local nature of the magnetic coupling that is used have largely hampered a good understanding and thus the control of the synchronization process. Here we take advantage of the non-local nature of an electrical coupling to mutually synchronize spin-torque oscillators through their self-emitted microwave currents. The control of the synchronized state is achieved at the nanoscale through two active components of spin transfer torques, but also externally through an electrical delay line. These additional levels of control of the synchronization capability provide new approaches to underlie a large variety of nanoscale collective dynamics in complex networks., Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures

The self-synchronization of spin torque oscillators is investigated experimentally by re-injecting its radiofrequency (rf) current after a certain delay time. We demonstrate that the emission power and the spectral linewidth are improved for optimal delay times. Moreover by varying the phase difference between the emitted power and the re-injected one, we find a clear oscillatory dependence with a 2\pi\ periodicity of the frequency of the oscillator as well as its power and linewidth. Such periodical behavior within the self-injection regime is well described by the general model of nonlinear auto-oscillators including not only a delayed rf current but also all spin torque forces responsible for the self-synchronization. Our results reveal new approaches for controlling the non-autonomous dynamics of spin torque oscillators, a key issue for rf spintronics applications as well as for the development of neuro-inspired spin-torque oscillators based devices.

Spin-polarised radio-frequency currents, whose frequency is equal to that of the gyrotropic mode, will cause an excitation of the core of a magnetic vortex confined in a magnetic tunnel junction. When the excitation radius of the vortex core is greater than that of the junction radius, vortex core expulsion is observed, leading to a large change in resistance, as the layer enters a predominantly uniform magnetisation state. Unlike the conventional spin-torque diode effect, this highly tunable resonant effect will generate a voltage which does not decrease as a function of rf power, and has the potential to form the basis of a new generation of tunable nanoscale radio-frequency detectors.

We investigate experimentally the synchronization of a vortex based spin transfer oscillator to an external rf current whose frequency is at multiple integers, as well as half integer, of the oscillator frequency. Through a theoretical study of the locking process, we highlight both the crucial role of the symmetries of the spin torques acting on the magnetic vortex and the nonlinear properties of the oscillator on the phase locking process. Through the achievement of a perfect injection locking state, we report a record phase noise reduction down to -90dBc/Hz at 1 kHz offset frequency. The phase noise of these nanoscale oscillators is demonstrating as being low and controllable which is of significant importance for real applications using spin transfer devices.

The radio-frequency (RF) voltage amplification property of a tunnel magnetoresistance device driven by an RF external-magnetic-field-induced ferromagnetic resonance was studied. The proposed device consists of a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) and an electrically isolated coplanar waveguide. The input RF voltage applied to the waveguide can excite the resonant dynamics in the free layer magnetization, leading to the generation of an output RF voltage under a DC bias current. The dependences of the RF voltage gain on the static external magnetic field strength and angle were systematically investigated. The design principles for the enhancement of the gain factor are also discussed., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures

We experimentally demonstrate that large magnetic vortex oscillations can be parametrically excited in a magnetic tunnel junction by the injection of radio-frequency (rf) currents at twice the natural frequency of the gyrotropic vortex core motion. The mechanism of excitation is based on the parallel pumping of vortex motion by the rf orthoradial field generated by the injected current. Theoretical analysis shows that experimental results can be interpreted as the manifestation of parametric amplification when rf current is small, and of parametric instability when rf current is above a certain threshold. By taking into account the energy nonlinearities, we succeed to describe the amplitude saturation of vortex oscillations as well as the coexistence of stable regimes., Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. Lett

The temperature dependence of a vortex-based nano-oscillator induced by spin transfer torque (STVO) in magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) is considered. We obtain emitted signals with large output power and good signal coherence. Due to the reduced non-linearities compared to the uniform magnetization case, we first observe a linear decrease of linewidth with decreasing temperature. However, this expected behavior no longer applies at lower temperature and a bottom limit of the linewidth is measured., Comment: submitted to APL

Phase locking experiments on vortex based spin transfer oscillators with an external microwave current are performed. We present clear evidence of phase locking, frequency pulling, as well as fractional synchronization in this system, with a minimum peak linewidth of only 3 kHz in the locked state. We find that locking ranges of the order of 1/3 of the oscillator frequency are easily achievable because of the large tunability $\partial f/\partial I_{dc}$ observed in our vortex based systems. Such large locking ranges allow us to demonstrate the simultaneous phase locking of two independent oscillators connected in series with the external source.

The OPERA detector at the Gran Sasso underground laboratory (LNGS) was used to measure the atmospheric muon charge ratio in the TeV energy region. We analyzed 403069 atmospheric muons corresponding to 113.4 days of livetime during the 2008 CNGS run. We computed separately the muon charge ratio for single and for multiple muon events in order to select different energy regions of the primary cosmic ray spectrum and to test the charge ratio dependence on the primary composition. The measured charge ratio values were corrected taking into account the charge-misidentification errors. Data have also been grouped in five bins of the "vertical surface energy". A fit to a simplified model of muon production in the atmosphere allowed the determination of the pion and kaon charge ratios weighted by the cosmic ray energy spectrum., Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures

Spin polarized current can excite the magnetization of a ferromagnet through the transfer of spin angular momentum to the local spin system. This pure spin-related transport phenomena leads to alluring possibilities for the achievement of a nanometer scale, CMOS compatible and tunable microwave generator operating at low bias for future wireless communications. Microwave emission generated by the persitent motion of magnetic vortices induced by spin transfer effect seems to be a unique manner to reach appropriate spectral linewidth. However, in metallic systems, where such vortex oscillations have been observed, the resulting microwave power is much too small. Here we present experimental evidences of spin-transfer induced core vortex precessions in MgO-based magnetic tunnel junctions with similar good spectral quality but an emitted power at least one order of magnitude stronger. More importantly, unlike to others spin transfer excitations, the thorough comparison between experimental results and models provide a clear textbook illustration of the mechanisms of vortex precessions induced by spin transfer.

We observe both dc voltage rectification and frequency conversion that occur when a reference microwave current is injected to a MgO based magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ). The rectification that is spin-transfer torque dependent is observed when the frequency of the input microwave current coincides with the resonance frequency of the magnetization of the active layer. In addition, we demonstrate that frequency conversion is the result of amplitude modulation between the reference signal and the resistance of the MTJ that is fluctuating at the resonance frequency of the magnetization of the active layer., Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures

We demonstrate the strong impact of the oscillator agility on the line broadening by studying spin transfer induced microwave emission in MgO-based tunnel junctions with current. The linewidth is almost not affected by decreasing the temperature. At very low currents, a strong enhancement of the linewidth at low temperature is attributed to an increase of the non linearity, probably due to the field-like torque. Finally we evidence that the noise is not dominated by thermal fluctuations but rather by the chaotization of the magnetization system induced by the spin transfer torque., Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, published in Phys. Rev. B 80, 060404 (2009)

We have studied charged nuclear fragments produced by 200 - 400 MeV/nucleon carbon ions, interacting with water and polycarbonate, using a newly developed emulsion detector. Total and partial charge-changing cross sections for the production of B, Be, and Li fragments were measured and compared with both previously published measurements, and model predictions. This study is of importance for validating and improving carbon ion therapy treatment planning systems, and for estimating the radiological risks for personnel on space missions, since carbon is a significant component of the Galactic Cosmic Rays., Comment: 28 pages, 13 figures