Spintronic nanoscillators for unconventional circuits

Spintronic nanodevices — which exploit both the magnetic and electric properties of electrons — are a major break-through for nanoelectronics. The flagship device of spintronics, the magnetic tunnel junction, naturally provides a binary memristive device with outstanding endurance, high speed and low energy consumption. Interestingly, relying on the same physics as their use as memristive devices, magnetic tunnel junctions may also be used as a type of voltage controlled oscillators: at a given voltage, oscillations in their electrical resistance and currents can be observed. Depending on the tuning of the devices geometrical and magnetic properties, the oscillations can be slow and stochastic, or fast and quasi-harmonic. In this work, we introduce experimentally validated models for these two regimes. We discuss the synchronization potential of these oscillators, as well as their possible use in unconventional circuits. Prospects for bioinspired systems are given. This work raises important questions regarding the use of nanooscillators in circuits, which we discuss in conclusion.

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