Patent ID: 7732881

Claim:
A magnetic memory element comprising: a bottom electrode; a composite free layer including a first free sub-layer formed on top of the bottom electrode, a nano-current-channel (NCC) layer formed on top of the first free sub-layer, and a second free sub-layer formed on top of the NCC 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 switching current when the switching 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; a barrier layer formed on top of the composite free layer; a fixed layer formed on top of the barrier layer; and a top electrode formed on top of the fixed layer, wherein when switching 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.