A 4kb memory array for MRAM development

The circuits for a A 4kb array of Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJs) have been designed and fabricated in a 0:18¹m CMOS process with three levels of metal. Support circuitry for addressing, reading, writing, and test mode probing enables the characterization of the switching of a thin-film ferromagnetic layer in the MTJs. Specifically, novel mechanisms involving spin-transfer or thermal assistance can be studied and compared to current MRAM designs that switch the MTJ with current-induced magnetic fields. Using this array design, both high speed digital and quasi-static dI/dV experiments can be conducted to investigate the nature of the MTJ resistance hysteresis and process variation in addition to the switching behavior under both polarities of current.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Qazi, Masood

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• John K. DeBrosse and Anantha P. Chandrakasan.

• Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/41552

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/41552