Patent ID: 8194361

Claim:
A spin-torque oscillator comprising: an oscillating field generating unit provided on a substrate and configured to generate an oscillating field, the oscillating field generating unit being a CPP-GMR device that includes a first stacked structure, the first stacked structure comprising a first magnetization pinned layer of which a magnetization direction is pinned, a first magnetization free layer of which a magnetization direction oscillates, and a spacer layer made of a nonmagnetic metal and interposed between the first magnetization pinned layer and the first magnetization free layer; a magnetoresistive element provided on the substrate and electrically insulated from the oscillating field generating unit, the magnetoresistive element including a magnetoresistive effect film comprising a second magnetization pinned layer of which a magnetization direction is pinned, a second magnetization free layer of which a magnetization direction oscillates with the oscillating field, and a tunnel barrier interposed between the second magnetization pinned layer and the second magnetization free layer; a first power supply configured to supply a current to the oscillating field generating unit, so as to cause the oscillating field generating unit to generate the oscillating field; a second power supply configured to supply a current to the magnetoresistive effect film of the magnetoresistive element; and a microwave extracting circuit configured to extract microwave that is output from the magnetoresistive effect film of the magnetoresistive element.