Flavio Abreu Araujo

Phase locking dynamics of dipolarly coupled vortex-based spin transfer oscillators

Phase locking dynamics of dipolarly coupled vortices excited by spin-polarized current in two identical nanopillars is studied as a function of the interpillar distance L. Numerical study and an analytical model have proved the remarkable efficiency of magnetostatic interaction in achieving phase locking. Investigating the dynamics in the transient regime toward phase locking, we extract the evolution of the locking time τ , the coupling strength μ, and the interaction energy W. Finally, we compare this coupling energy with the one obtained by a simple model.

Neuromorphic computing with nanoscale spintronic oscillators

Neurons in the brain behave as nonlinear oscillators, which develop rhythmic activity and interact to process information. Taking inspiration from this behaviour to realize high-density, low-power neuromorphic computing will require very large numbers of nanoscale nonlinear oscillators. A simple estimation indicates that to fit 108 oscillators organized in a two-dimensional array inside a chip the size of a thumb, the lateral dimension of each oscillator must be smaller than one micrometre. However, nanoscale devices tend to be noisy and to lack the stability that is required to process data in a reliable way. For this reason, despite multiple theoretical proposals and several candidates, including memristive and superconducting oscillators, a proof of concept of neuromorphic computing using nanoscale oscillators has yet to be demonstrated. Here we show experimentally that a nanoscale spintronic oscillator (a magnetic tunnel junction) can be used to achieve spoken-digit recognition with an accuracy similar to that of state-of-the-art neural networks. We also determine the regime of magnetization dynamics that leads to the greatest performance. These results, combined with the ability of the spintronic oscillators to interact with each other, and their long lifetime and low energy consumption, open up a path to fast, parallel, on-chip computation based on networks of oscillators.

Efficient Synchronization of Dipolarly Coupled Vortex-Based Spin Transfer Nano-Oscillators.

Due to their nonlinear properties, spin transfer nano-oscillators can easily adapt their frequency to external stimuli. This makes them interesting model systems to study the effects of synchronization and brings some opportunities to improve their microwave characteristics in view of their applications in information and communication technologies and/or to design innovative computing architectures. So far, mutual synchronization of spin transfer nano-oscillators through propagating spinwaves and exchange coupling in a common magnetic layer has been demonstrated. Here we show that the dipolar interaction is also an efficient mechanism to synchronize neighbouring oscillators. We experimentally study a pair of vortex-based spin transfer nano-oscillators, in which mutual synchronization can be achieved despite a significant frequency mismatch between oscillators. Importantly, the coupling efficiency is controlled by the magnetic configuration of the vortices, as confirmed by an analytical model and micromagnetic simulations highlighting the physics at play in the synchronization process.

Nonlinear Behavior and Mode Coupling in Spin-Transfer Nano-Oscillators

By investigating thoroughly the tunable behavior of coupled modes, we highlight how it provides a means to tune the properties of spin-transfer nano-oscillators.We first demonstrate that the main features of the microwave signal associated with coupled vortex dynamics, i.e., frequency, spectral coherence, critical current, and mode localization, depend drastically on the relative vortex core polarities. Second, we report a large reduction of the nonlinear linewidth broadening obtained by changing the effective damping through the control of the core configuration. Such a level of control on the nonlinear behavior reinforces our choice to exploit the microwave properties of collective modes for applications in advanced spintronics devices for integrated telecommunication concerns.

A Nanotechnology-Ready Computing Scheme based on a Weakly Coupled Oscillator Network

With conventional transistor technologies reaching their limits, alternative computing schemes based on novel technologies are currently gaining considerable interest. Notably, promising computing approaches have proposed to leverage the complex dynamics emerging in networks of coupled oscillators based on nanotechnologies. The physical implementation of such architectures remains a true challenge, however, as most proposed ideas are not robust to nanotechnology devices’ non-idealities. In this work, we propose and investigate the implementation of an oscillator-based architecture, which can be used to carry out pattern recognition tasks, and which is tailored to the specificities of nanotechnologies. This scheme relies on a weak coupling between oscillators, and does not require a fine tuning of the coupling values. After evaluating its reliability under the severe constraints associated to nanotechnologies, we explore the scalability of such an architecture, suggesting its potential to realize pattern recognition tasks using limited resources. We show that it is robust to issues like noise, variability and oscillator non-linearity. Defining network optimization design rules, we show that nano-oscillator networks could be used for efficient cognitive processing.

Single spin-torque vortex oscillator using combined bottom-up approach and e-beam lithography

A combined bottom-up assembly of electrodeposited nanowires and electron beam lithography technique has been developed to investigate the spin transfer torque and microwave emission on specially designed nanowires containing a single Co/Cu/Co pseudo spin valve. Microwave signals have been obtained even at zero magnetic field. Interestingly, high frequency vs. magnetic field tunability was demonstrated, in the range 0.4–2 MHz/Oe, depending on the orientation of the applied magnetic field relative to the magnetic layers of the pseudo spin valve. The frequency values and the emitted signal frequency as a function of the external magnetic field are in good quantitative agreement with the analytical vortex model as well as with micromagnetic simulations.

Periodic arrays of magnetic nanostructures by depositing Co/Pt multilayers on the barrier layer of ordered anodic alumina templates

We developed a method to fabricate ordered Co/Pt multilayer nanodot arrays using the barrier layer of anodic alumina templates as two-dimensional curved substrates. Large area patterning of self-assembled alumina nanobumps are formed with hexagonally close-packed order. The subsequent deposition of Co/Pt multilayers on this bumpy surface leads to an ordered array of single-domain nanocaps magnetized perpendicularly to the sample surface. Measurement of reversal field as a function of field angle and images of demagnetized state, composed with monobump-wide stripe domains, confirm the weakness of exchange coupling between bits.

Influence of the packing fraction and host matrix on the magnetoelastic anisotropy in Ni nanowire composite arrays

The influence of the packing fraction on thermally induced magnetoelastic effects has been studied in Ni nanowires embedded in polycarbonate, poly(vinylidene difluoride), and alumina nanoporous membranes of different porosities for temperatures between 77 K and 345 K. For nanowires embedded in polymer membranes, the contrasting shift in the ferromagnetic resonance frequency when the temperature is either above or below ambient temperature is consistent with the occurrence of uniaxial magnetoelastic anisotropy effects due to the large thermal expansion coefficient mismatch between the metal nanowires and the membrane. A model which considers the influence of the nanowires packing fraction and the membrane material on the magnetoelastic effects, arising from the matrix-assisted deformation process, is proposed. The model is able to successfully explain the experimentally observed effects for the Ni nanowire arrays embedded in the different porous membranes and their variation with the packing fraction. The possibility to modulate the magnetic anisotropy of such nanocomposites by an appropriate choice of membrane material, packing fraction, and sample temperature is of considerable importance to achieve magnetically tunable devices.

Probing Phase Coupling Between Two Spin-Torque Nano-Oscillators with an External Source

Phase coupling between auto-oscillators is central for achieving coherent responses such as synchronization. Here we present an experimental approach to probe it in the case of two dipolarly coupled spin-torque vortex nano-oscillators using an external microwave field. By phase locking one oscillator to the external source, we observe frequency pulling on the second oscillator. From coupled phase equations we show analytically that this frequency pulling results from concerted actions of oscillator-oscillator and source-oscillator couplings. The analysis allows us to determine the strength and phase shift of coupling between two oscillators, yielding important information for the implementation of large interacting oscillator networks.

Controlling the synchronization properties of two dipolarly coupled vortex based spin-torque nano-oscillators by the intermediate of a third one

In this paper, we propose to control the strength of phase-locking between two dipolarly coupled vortex based spin-torque nano-oscillators by placing an intermediate oscillator between them. We show through micromagnetic simulations that the strength of phase-locking can be largely tuned by a slight variation of current in the intermediate oscillator. We develop simplified numerical simulations based on analytical expressions of the vortex core trajectories that will be useful for investigating large arrays of densely packed spin-torque oscillators interacting through their stray fields.