No Arabic abstract
Spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs) are emerging spintronic devices for microwave signal generation and oscillator based neuromorphic computing combining nano-scale footprint, fast and ultra-wide microwave frequency tunability, CMOS compatibility, and strong non-linear properties providing robust large-scale mutual synchronization in chains and two-dimensional arrays. While SHNOs can be tuned via magnetic fields and the drive current, neither approach is conducive for individual SHNO control in large arrays. Here, we demonstrate electrically gated W/CoFeB/MgO nano-constrictions in which the voltage-dependent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, tunes the frequency and, thanks to nano-constriction geometry, drastically modifies the spin-wave localization in the constriction region resulting in a giant 42 % variation of the effective damping over four volts. As a consequence, the SHNO threshold current can be strongly tuned. Our demonstration adds key functionality to nano-constriction SHNOs and paves the way for energy-efficient control of individual oscillators in SHNO chains and arrays for neuromorphic computing.
We use He$^+$ irradiation to tune the nonlinearity, $mathcal{N}$, of all-perpendicular spin-torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) using the He$^+$ fluence-dependent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) of the [Co/Ni] free layer. Employing fluences from 6 to 20$times10^{14}$~He$^{+}$/cm$^{2}$, we are able to tune $mathcal{N}$ in an in-plane field from strongly positive to moderately negative. As the STNO microwave signal properties are mainly governed by $mathcal{N}$, we can in this way directly control the threshold current, the current tunability of the frequency, and the STNO linewidth. In particular, we can dramatically improve the latter by more than two orders of magnitude. Our results are in good agreement with the theory for nonlinear auto-oscillators, confirm theoretical predictions of the role of nonlinearity, and demonstrate a straightforward path towards improving the microwave properties of STNOs.
Large-amplitude magnetization dynamics is substantially more complex compared to the low-amplitude linear regime, due to the inevitable emergence of nonlinearities. One of the fundamental nonlinear phenomena is the nonlinear damping enhancement, which imposes strict limitations on the operation and efficiency of magnetic nanodevices. In particular, nonlinear damping prevents excitation of coherent magnetization auto-oscillations driven by the injection of spin current into spatially extended magnetic regions. Here, we propose and experimentally demonstrate that nonlinear damping can be controlled by the ellipticity of magnetization precession. By balancing different contributions to anisotropy, we minimize the ellipticity and achieve coherent magnetization oscillations driven by spatially extended spin current injection into a microscopic magnetic disk. Our results provide a novel route for the implementation of efficient active spintronic and magnonic devices driven by spin current.
Spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs) utilize pure spin currents to drive local regions of magnetic films and nanostructures into auto-oscillating precession. If such regions are placed in close proximity to each other they can interact and sometimes mutually synchronize, in pairs or in short linear chains. Here we demonstrate robust mutual synchronization of two-dimensional SHNO arrays ranging from 2 x 2 to 8 x 8 nano-constrictions, observed both electrically and using micro-Brillouin Light Scattering microscopy. The signal quality factor, $Q=f/Delta f$, increases linearly with number of mutually synchronized nano-constrictions ($N$), reaching 170,000 in the largest arrays. While the microwave peak power first increases as $N^2$, it eventually levels off, indicating a non-zero relative phase shift between nano-constrictions. Our demonstration will enable the use of SHNO arrays in two-dimensional oscillator networks for high-quality microwave signal generation and neuromorphic computing.
Energy loss due to ohmic heating is a major bottleneck limiting down-scaling and speed of nano-electronic devices, and harvesting ohmic heat for signal processing is a major challenge in modern electronics. Here we demonstrate that thermal gradients arising from ohmic heating can be utilized for excitation of coherent auto-oscillations of magnetization and for generation of tunable microwave signals. The heat-driven dynamics is observed in $mathrm{Y_{3}Fe_{5}O_{12}/Pt}$ bilayer nanowires where ohmic heating of the Pt layer results in injection of pure spin current into the $mathrm{Y_{3}Fe_{5}O_{12}}$ layer. This leads to excitation of auto-oscillations of the $mathrm{Y_{3}Fe_{5}O_{12}}$ magnetization and generation of coherent microwave radiation. Our work paves the way towards spin caloritronic devices for microwave and magnonic applications.
Action potentials are the basic unit of information in the nervous system and their reliable detection and decoding holds the key to understanding how the brain generates complex thought and behavior. Transducing these signals into microwave field oscillations can enable wireless sensors that report on brain activity through magnetic induction. In the present work we demonstrate that action potentials from crayfish lateral giant neuron can trigger microwave oscillations in spin-torque nano-oscillators. These nanoscale devices take as input small currents and convert them to microwave current oscillations that can wirelessly broadcast neuronal activity, opening up the possibility for compact neuro-sensors. We show that action potentials activate microwave oscillations in spin-torque nano-oscillators with an amplitude that follows the action potential signal, demonstrating that the device has both the sensitivity and temporal resolution to respond to action potentials from a single neuron. The activation of magnetic oscillations by action potentials, together with the small footprint and the high frequency tunability, makes these devices promising candidates for high resolution sensing of bioelectric signals from neural tissues. These device attributes may be useful for design of high-throughput bi-directional brain-machine interfaces.