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Although spin transfer torque (STT)-based magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) owns advantages of nonvolatility, nonlimited endurance, and fast write/read, its demand for high current density significantly casts a shadow over its future prospects. Recently, a novel three-terminal MTJ cell that combines voltage-controlled magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect and negative capacitance (NC) effect is proposed. Drawing support from the NC amplified VCMA effect and the three-step operation scenario, this novel MTJ cell can dramatically lower the energy consumption to fJ as well as keep high operation speed within nanoseconds. The feasibility of the proposed NC enhanced VCMA spintronics device for memory and logic application is proved by extensive physical simulation in our previous work. However, a SPICE compatible compact model of the proposed NC enhanced VCMA spintronics device is still demanded for circuit and system level evaluation. In this paper, we provide an accurate and fast compact model of NC enhanced VCMA device for both memory and logic applications. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper is to introduce a compact model for perpendicular spin-transfer torque (STT)-magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) implemented in Verilog-A to assure easy integration with electrical circuit simulators. It takes into account the effects of voltage-dependent perpendicular magnetic anisotropy, temperature-dependent parameters, thermal heating/cooling, MTJ process variations, and the spin-torque asymmetry of the Slonczewski spin-polarization function in the switching process. This translates into a comprehensive modeling that was adopted to investigate the writing performance under voltage scaling of a $256\times256$ STT- magnetic random access memory array implemented at three different technology nodes. Obtained results show that scaling from 30- to 20-nm node allows a write energy saving of about 43%, while the supply voltage that assures the minimum-energy write operation increases. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The current-induced perpendicular magnetic anisotropy magnetic tunnel junctions (p-MTJs) offer a number of advantages, such as high density and high speed. As p-MTJs downscale to $\sim 40$ nm, further performance enhancements can be realized thanks to high spin-torque efficiency, i.e., lower critical current density and higher thermal stability. In this paper, we investigate the origin of high spin-torque efficiency and give a phenomenological theory to describe the critical current reduction due to the subvolume activation. Based on various physical theories and structural parameters, a compact model of nanoscale MTJ is developed and demonstrates a satisfactory agreement with experimental results. Dynamic, static, and stochastic switching behaviors have been addressed and validated. Then, we perform mixed simulations for hybrid MTJ/CMOS read/write circuits, magnetic random access memory, and magnetic flip-flop to evaluate their performance. Analyses of energy consumption are given to show the prospect of MTJ technology node miniaturization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]