McMichael, R.
, Pong, P.
, Unguris, J.
, Egelhoff Jr., W.
, Edelstein, A.
, Nowak, E.
and Parkin, S.
(2021),
Challenges for Sub-PicoTesla Magnetic-Tunnel-Junction Sensors, Journal of Applied Physics
(Accessed April 24, 2024)
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Challenges for Sub-PicoTesla Magnetic-Tunnel-Junction Sensors
Published
Author(s)
, , , , A Edelstein, E Nowak, Sean R. Parkin
Abstract
The extension of small, inexpensive, low-power magnetic sensors into the sub-picoTesla regime, which is currently dominated by fluxgates and SQUIDS, would be a paradigm shift for the field of magnetic sensors. The necessary elements for sub-picoTesla MTJ sensors have been successfully demonstrated separately in the past year. If these elements can be integrated into operational systems without significant losses in performance then, in principle, sensitivities of a few femtoTesla/rt(Hz) at 1 Hz may be possible. Theoretical modeling indicates that an MTJ sensor incorporating those developments and equaling existing MTJs in other respects would have an ultimate noise floor (above which fields could be detected) of 5.5 femtoTesla/rt(Hz) at 1 Hz. This sensitivity is more than a factor of 104 better than existing magnetoresistive sensors. This paper presents the results of theoretical modeling, illustrates the experimental challenges involved in the integration of these developments into actual sensors, illustrates the trade-offs faced if there are losses in performance upon integration, and discusses issues associated with real-world applications of these sensors to ultra-low field measurements.Citation
Journal of Applied Physics
Pub Type
Journals
Keywords
magnetic sonsor, sub-picotesla, tunnel junction MEMS
Citation
Created October 12, 2021