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We demonstrate magnetic droplet soliton pairs in all-perpendicular spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs), where one droplet resides in the STNO free layer (FL) and the other in the reference layer (RL). Typically, theoretical, numerical, and experimental droplet studies have focused on the FL, with any additional dynamics in the RL entirely ignored. Here we show that there is not only significant magnetodynamics in the RL, but the RL itself can host a droplet driven by, and coexisting with, the FL droplet. Both single droplets and pairs are observed experimentally as stepwise changes and sharp peaks in the dc and differential resistance, respectively. While the single FL droplet is highly stable, the coexistence state exhibits high-power broadband microwave noise. Furthermore, micromagnetic simulations reveal that the pair dynamics display periodic, quasi-periodic, and chaotic signatures controlled by applied field and current. The strongly interacting and closely spaced droplet pair offers a unique platform for fundamental studies of highly non-linear soliton pair dynamics., QC 20240321

Spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) are a type of nanoscale microwave auto-oscillators utilizing spin-torque to generate magnetodynamics with great promise for applications in microwaves, magnetic memory, and neuromorphic computing. Here, we report the first demonstration of exchange-spring STNOs, with an exchange-spring ([Co/Pd]-Co) reference layer and a perpendicular ([Co/Ni]) free layer. This magnetic configuration results in high-frequency (>10 GHz) microwave emission at a zero magnetic field and exchange-spring dynamics in the reference layer and the observation of magnetic droplet solitons in the free layer at different current polarities. Our demonstration of bipolar and field-free exchange-spring-based STNOs operating over a 20 GHz frequency range greatly extends the design freedom and functionality of the current STNO technology for energy -efficient high-frequency spintronic and neuromorphic applications., QC 20230412

Magnetic droplets are a type of non-topological magnetic soliton, which are stabilised and sustained by spin-transfer torques for instance. Without this, they would collapse. Here Ahlberg et al show that by decreasing the applied magnetic field, droplets can be frozen, forming a static nanobubble Magnetic droplets are non-topological magnetodynamical solitons displaying a wide range of complex dynamic phenomena with potential for microwave signal generation. Bubbles, on the other hand, are internally static cylindrical magnetic domains, stabilized by external fields and magnetostatic interactions. In its original theory, the droplet was described as an imminently collapsing bubble stabilized by spin transfer torque and, in its zero-frequency limit, as equivalent to a bubble. Without nanoscale lateral confinement, pinning, or an external applied field, such a nanobubble is unstable, and should collapse. Here, we show that we can freeze dynamic droplets into static nanobubbles by decreasing the magnetic field. While the bubble has virtually the same resistance as the droplet, all signs of low-frequency microwave noise disappear. The transition is fully reversible and the bubble can be thawed back into a droplet if the magnetic field is increased under current. Whereas the droplet collapses without a sustaining current, the bubble is highly stable and remains intact for days without external drive. Electrical measurements are complemented by direct observation using scanning transmission x-ray microscopy, which corroborates the analysis and confirms that the bubble is stabilized by pinning., QC 20220524

We demonstrate an approach for improving the spectral linewidth of a spin torque nano-oscillator (STNO). Using He + ion irradiation, we tune the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) of the STNO free layer such that its easy axis is gradually varied from strongly out-of-plane to moderate in-plane. As the PMA impacts the non-linearity N of the STNO, we can, in this way, control the threshold current, the current tunability of the frequency, and, in particular, the STNO linewidth, which dramatically improves by two orders of magnitude. Our results are in good agreement with the theory for nonlinear auto-oscillators, confirm theoretical predictions of the role of the nonlinearity, and demonstrate a straightforward path toward improving the microwave properties of STNOs., QC 20200408

We investigate how the Oersted field affects the magnetic droplet nucleation boundary in spin-torque nano-oscillators based on orthogonal spin-valve stacks with a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy Co/Ni free layer and an easy-plane anisotropy Ni80Fe20 fixed layer. The current-field nucleation boundary is determined experimentally using both microwave signal and dc resistance measurements. The Oersted field can, in principle, have an impact on droplet nucleation. This effect is considered approximately using an analytical equation for the nucleation boundary, which is extended to cover fields larger than the fixed-layer saturation field. We test the accuracy of this approach by comparing with micromagnetic simulations. Finally, we carry out a numerical fit to experimental data and find good agreement.

Using He+ ion irradiation, we demonstrate how the magnetodynamic properties of both ferromagnetic layers in all-perpendicular [Co/Pd]/Cu/[Co/Ni] spin valves can be tuned by varying the He+ ion fluence. As the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of both layers is gradually reduced by the irradiation, different magnetic configurations can be achieved from all-perpendicular (up arrow up arrow), through orthogonal (->up arrow), to all in-plane (paired right arrows). In addition, both the magnetic damping (alpha) and the inhomogeneous broadening (Delta H-0) of the Co/Ni layer improve substantially with increasing fluence. While the GMR of the spin valve is negatively affected, decreasing linearly from an original value of 1.14% to 0.4% at the maximum fluence of 50x10(14) He+/cm(2), most of the Co/Ni layer improvement is achieved already at a fluence of 10x10(14) He+/cm(2), for which GMR only reduces to 0.9%., QC 20180719

We demonstrate highly efficient spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs) based on NiFe/beta-W bilayers. Thanks to the very high spin Hall angle of beta-W, we achieve more than a 60% reduction in the auto-oscillation threshold current compared to NiFe/Pt bilayers. The structural, electrical, and magnetic properties of the bilayers, as well as the microwave signal generation properties of the SHNOs, have been studied in detail. Our results provide a promising path for the realization of low-current SHNO microwave devices with highly efficient spin-orbit torque from beta-W. Published by AIP Publishing., QC 20170215

Several scientific issues concerning the latest generation read heads for magnetic storage devices, based on CoFeB/MgO/CoFeBmagnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) are known to be controversial, including such fundamental questions as to the behavior and the role of B in optimizing the physical properties of these devices. Quantitatively establishing the internal structures of several such devices with different annealing conditions using hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, we resolve these controversies and establish that the B diffusion is controlled by the capping Ta layer, though Ta is physically separated from the layer with B by several nanometers. While explaining this unusual phenomenon, we also provide insight into why the tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR) is optimized at an intermediate annealing temperature, relating it to B diffusion, coupled with our studies based on x-ray diffraction and magnetic studies., QC 20150507

We report on the magnetization depth profile of a hybrid exchange-spring system in which a Co/Pd multilayer with perpendicular anisotropy is coupled to a CoFeB thin film with in-plane anisotropy. The competition between these two orthogonal anisotropies promotes a strong depth dependence of the magnetization orientation. The angle of the magnetization vector is sensitive both to the strength of the individual anisotropies and to the local exchange constant and is thus tunable by changing the thickness of the CoFeB layer and by substituting Ni for Pd in one layer of the Co/Pd stack. The resulting magnetic depth profiles are directly probed by element-specific x-ray magnetic circular dichroism of the Fe and Ni layers located at different average depths. The experimental results are corroborated by micromagnetic simulations., QC 20141203

Magnetic multilayer (ML) structures comprising a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) layer coupled to an in-plane magnetic anisotropy (IMA) layer are promising materials for zero/low field operating spin-torque oscillators and bit patterned recording media. The magnetization tilt angle can be easily tuned by varying the IMA layer thickness due to the competition between PMA and IMA layers. To explore the underlying magnetization reversal mechanism and to further understand the control of tilt angle and uniformity of the magnetization, the IMA (NiFe, Co, and CoFeB)/PMA (Co/Pd MLs) exchange spring systems are systematically studied. Experimental data obtained from magnetometry show good agreement with 1-D micromagnetic simulations, allowing us to design tunable exchange coupled spring as a function of IMA thickness., QC 20141113

The influence on magnetic droplet nucleation boundaries by canted magnetic elds are investigated and reported. The nucleation boundary condition, In = αAH + BH + C, is determined at different canted angles (0°< θH<20°) using magnetoresistance (MR) and microwave measurements in nanocontact spintorque oscillators (NC-STOs). As θH increased, the nucleation boundary shifts gradually towards higher In and H. The coefficient B of the nucleation boundary equation also nearly doubled as θH increases. On theother hand, the coefficient αA remained constant for all values of θH. These observations can be explained by considering the drift instability of magnetic droplets and the different tilt behaviour of the Co fixed layer induced by different θH., QC 20180907

We demonstrate how to extract the material dependent spin torque efficiency (ε) and asymmetry(λ) from the eld{current nucleation boundaries of magnetic droplet solitons in orthogonal nanocontacts in-torque oscillators with Cox(Ni80Fe20)1-x, (x=0{1), fixed layers. As the perpendicular component of the xed layer magnetization plays a central role in governing droplet nucleation, the nucleation boundaries exhibit monotonic shifts towards higher perpendicular magnetic elds when the xed layer magnetization μ0Ms,p is tuned from 1.04 to 1.7 T. We then extract ε and λ from tsto the nucleation boundaries and nd that while ε does not vary with composition, λ increases from1.5 to 3 with increasing Co content. The analysis of droplet nucleation boundaries is hence a useful tool for the systematic study of both ε and λ as functions of material composition., QC 20180907

Spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) are among the most promising candidates for nanoscale broadband microwave generators. Before this application can be realized, however, enormous efforts are required of researchers to meet the commercial requirements of high-frequency tunability, high power, and narrow linewidth. As the performance of STNOs is mainly attributed to the nonlinearity on the basis of nonlinear auto-oscillator theory, we here systematically study how this nonlinearity is affected by the free-layer's effective magnetization Meff (i.e., the perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, PMA) in STNOs. The PMA is gradually tuned by using different fluences of He+ irradiation. Consequently, the nonlinearity can be continuously tailored from positive to negative. In addition, due to the almost zero nonlinearity, the linewidth shows an improvement of more than two orders of magnitude. This experimental observation is in strong agreement with the theory of nonlinear auto-oscillators. Our study not only confirms the theoretical prediction of nonlinearity, but also indicates the route to be taken towards realizing commercial microwave generators., QC 20180907

We demonstrate ultra-high frequency tunability of up to 4.4 GHz/mA, and low threshold currents of about -21 $\mu$A, in spin-torque oscillators based on CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB magnetic tunnel junctions, in which both free and fixed layers have perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA). By using different thicknesses of the two CoFeB layers, their individual PMA strengths can be tailored to achieve significant relative misalignment of their respective magnetizations in moderate in-plane fields. We observe a broad maximum in both the device resistance and the generated microwave power around maximum misalignment. Maximum frequency tunability is observed at low-to-moderate fields and decrease rapidly after maximum misalignment., QC 20160829

Spin-torque-generated magnetic droplets are nontopological solitons that have both dynamic and static characteristics. Although theoretical studies of these droplets originally dealt with an all-perpendicular magnetic system, all experimental demonstrations have so far relied on orthogonal spin valve structures that require a rather strong magnetic field to nucleate the droplet. Here, for the first time, we show the nucleation and sustained operation of magnetic droplets under a low magnetic field using nanocontact spin-torque oscillators (NC-STO), both the free Co/Ni and fixed Co/Pd multilayers of which have strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy. Droplet nucleation is observed as a change in the NC-STO resistance and the appearance of significant broadband microwave signal generation below 1 GHz. We also observe another important phenomenon in which the nucleated magnetic droplet can transform into a skyrmionic nanobubble in the low-field regime. Both magnetic droplet solitons and skyrmionic nanobubbles have been studied in detail using micromagnetic simulation., QC 20160829

We performed spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance measurements on spin-torque oscillators based on CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs), with both free and fixed layers having perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, under the application of an in-plane field. A dc current between near-zero and -250 $\mu{A}$ was introduced to investigate the influence of spin-transfer torque effects on the asymmetric and symmetric components of the output voltage. Both components showed a minimum at a misalignment of about 30$^\circ$ between the magnetization of the two CoFeB layers, indicating a strong electric-field effect. We also found that the bias dependence of the spin-torque terms is in contrast to that of in-plane anisotropy CoFeB MTJs., QC 20160829