High-frequency noise measurements in spin-valve Devices

Published

July 1, 2003

Author(s)

N. A. Stutzke, S. L. Burkett, Stephen E. Russek

Abstract

High-frequency magnetic noise in magnetoresistive devices being developed for read-sensor and magnetic random access memory applications may present fundamental limitations on the performance of sub-micrometer magnetic devices. High- frequency magnetic noise (HFN) arises from intrinsic thermal fluctuations of the device magnetization. High-frequency noise spectroscopy provides a powerful tool to characterize the dynamics and response of small multilayer magnetic devices. In this study, the noise characteristics of micrometer-dimension spinvalves have been investigated at frequencies in the range of 0.1-6 GHz. At frequencies below this range 1/f noise dominates. HFN measurements, as a function of t bias current and longitudinal magnetic field are obtained for IrMn exchange-biased spin valves using a 50 GHz spectrum analyzer, low-noise amplifier, and a microwave probing system. The magnetic noise is obtained by taking the difference between the noise spectrum of the device in a saturated and unsaturated state. The data can be fit to simple models that predict the noise power to be proportional to the imaginary part of the free-layer magnetic susceptibility. There are some important differences between the high-frequency noise measurements and direct measurements of the device susceptibility (both at the device and wafer level). The noise measurements show a smaller damping parameter (a smaller ferromagnetic resonance linewidth) and additional features due to the presence of nonuniform modes.

Citation

Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B

Volume

21

Issue

4

Pub Type

Journals

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Keywords

ferromagnetic resonance, GMR, magnetic noise, spinvalves

Citation

Stutzke, N. , Burkett, S. and Russek, S. (2003), High-frequency noise measurements in spin-valve Devices, Journal of Vacuum Science and Technology B, [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=30863 (Accessed October 8, 2025)