Patent ID: 7981697

Claim:
A method of manufacturing a magnetic memory element comprising: depositing a seed layer on top of a bottom electrode; depositing a first free sub-layer on top of the seed layer, the seed layer being made of CrRu; depositing a nano-current-channel (NCC) layer on top of the first free sub-layer; depositing a second free sub-layer on top of the NCC layer, the first free sub-layer, the NCC layer and the second free sub-layer forming a composite free layer, the first and second free sub-layers being made of the same material, grains of a substantially cylindrical shape dispersed throughout the NCC layer and surrounded by a matrix, the composite free layer responsive to a current and when the current is applied to and flows bidirectionally through the layers of the magnetic memory element, the first free sub-layer and the second free sub-layer being exchange coupled to the grains, each of the grains having a magnetic moment and the magnetic moment of each of the grains switching locally and within the grain when switching current flows through the magnetic memory element thereby reducing the switching current, the grains made of a conducting material having high spin polarization ratio and being magnetically soft; forming a spacer layer on top of the composite free layer; and forming a fixed layer formed on top of the spacer layer on top of which is formed a top electrode, wherein when current is applied, in a direction that is substantially perpendicular to the layers of the memory element, local magnetic moments of the NCC layer switch the state of the memory element.