MRAM Memory Cell Having a Weak Intrinsic Anisotropic Storage Layer and Method of Producing the Same

摘要

An MRAM memory cell is provided having a layer system made of circular-disk-shaped layers. The memory cell includes first and second magnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic intermediate layer. The first magnetic layer exhibits hard-magnetic behavior and serves as a reference layer. The second magnetic layer exhibits soft-magnetic behavior and serves as a storage layer. An antiferromagnetic layer may be provided on the storage layer. Information is stored by the magnetization state of the storage layer. The storage layer has a weak intrinsic anisotropy that defines a magnetic preferred direction. The magnetization direction of the reference layer is parallel to the magnetization direction of a remanent magnetization in the interior of the storage layer. The remanent magnetization occurs as a result of applying an external magnetic field with a field component perpendicular to the preferred direction of the intrinsic anisotropy of the storage layer.