Energy-Efficient Stochastic Signal Manipulation in Superparamagnetic Tunnel Junctions via Voltage-Controlled Exchange Coupling
Qi Jia, Onri Jay Benally, Brandon R. Zink, Delin Zhang, Yang Lv, Shuang Liang, Deyuan Lyu, Yu‐Chia Chen, Yifei Yang, Yu Huang, Jian-Ping Wang
Abstract
Superparamagnetic tunnel junctions (sMTJs) are emerging as promising components for stochastic units in neuromorphic computing owing to their tunable random switching behavior. Conventional MTJ control methods, such as spin-transfer torque (STT) and spin-orbit torque (SOT), often require substantial power. Here, we introduce the voltage-controlled exchange coupling (VCEC) mechanism, enabling the switching between antiparallel and parallel states in sMTJs with an ultralow power consumption of only 40 nW, approximately 2 orders of magnitude lower than conventional STT-based sMTJs. This mechanism yields a sigmoid-shaped output response, making it ideally suited to neuromorphic computing applications. Furthermore, we validate the feasibility of integrating VCEC with SOT current control, offering an additional dimension for magnetic state manipulation. This work marks the first practical demonstration of the VCEC effect in sMTJs, highlighting its potential as a low-power control solution for probabilistic bits in advanced computing systems.