Patent ID: 11887641
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Field: Computer technology (Electrical engineering)
Classification: CPC G  H | IPC G  H

Claim 13:
14. The method of claim 13, further comprising:
patterning the magnetic tunnel junction stack to form the magnetic tunnel junction pillar;
conformally depositing a spacer material above the magnetic tunnel junction pillar;
etching the spacer material to form the sidewall spacers;
forming a sacrificial dielectric layer above the dielectric underlayer and surrounding the magnetic tunnel junction pillar;
recessing the sacrificial dielectric layer to expose top portions of the amorphous dielectric hardmask and top dielectric layer;
removing the sidewall spacers from sidewalls of the amorphous dielectric hardmask and the top dielectric layer; and
recessing the top dielectric layer.