Magnetic tunnel junction based random number generator

摘要

Embodiments of the disclosure are directed to generating a random number. An embodiment of the disclosure passes a current from a read operation through a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) to cause a first magnetization orientation of a free layer to switch to a second magnetization orientation, the switch in magnetization orientation causing a change in a resistance of the MTJ, and periodically samples the resistance of the MTJ to generate a bit value for the random number.

主权项

1. A method of generating a random number, comprising:
passing a current from a read operation through a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) to cause a first magnetization orientation of a free layer to switch to a second magnetization orientation, the switch in magnetization orientation causing a change in a resistance of the MTJ; wherein a damping constant of the MTJ is increased to minimize or eliminate an amount of spin transfer torque (STT) applied to the free layer by the current; wherein the MTJ is circular or elliptical in at least one plane to minimize or eliminate the energy barrier between the first and the second magnetization orientations of the free layer; and periodically sampling the resistance of the MTJ to generate a bit value for the random number.