Patent ID: 8750035

Claim:
A memory element, comprising: a memory layer that maintains information through a magnetization state of a magnetic material; a magnetization-fixed layer with a magnetization that is a reference of information stored in the memory layer; and an intermediate layer that is formed of a non-magnetic material and is provided between the memory layer and the magnetization-fixed layer, wherein the storing of the information is performed by inverting the magnetization of the memory layer by using a spin torque magnetization inversion that occurs according to a current flowing in a lamination direction of a layered structure having the memory layer, the intermediate layer, and the magnetization-fixed layer, the memory layer includes an alloy region containing cobalt (Co) and iron (Fe), and a magnitude of an effective diamagnetic field which the memory layer receives during magnetization inversion thereof is smaller than an saturated magnetization amount of the memory layer.