Patent ID: 7029941
Filing Date: 2006-04-18
Classification: G11C

Abstract:
1. A method for fabricating a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) cell, said cell having a narrow dimension at its middle whereat artificial nucleation sites for magnetization switching are formed and said cell having an easy axis of magnetization passing longitudinally through said middle, thereby producing a fanning mode of magnetization vectors at opposite peripheral edges of said cell and, as a result, said cell having a lowered switching field threshold and a reduced sensitivity to defects and shape irregularities comprising: forming an MTJ layered stack, the magnetic layers of said stack having a common crystalline anisotropy and common easy axis of magnetization; patterning within said stack, by photolithography and ion-milling methods, at least one MTJ cell having a narrow dimension at its middle, said dimension being transverse to the direction of said easy axis of magnetization.