Experimental Demonstration of a Spin Logic Device with Deterministic and Stochastic Mode of Operation

Spin based logic devices have attracted a lot of research interest due to their potential low-power operation, non-volatility and possibility to enable new computing applications. Here we present an experimental demonstration of a novel spin logic device working at room temperature without the requirement of an external magnetic field. Our device is based on a pair of coupled in-plane magnetic anisotropy (IMA) magnet and a perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) magnet. The information written in the state of the IMA magnet is transferred to the state of the PMA magnet by means of a symmetry breaking dipolar field, while the two layers are electrically isolated. In addition to having the basic tenets of a logic device, our device has inbuilt memory, taking advantage of the non-volatility of nanomagnets. In another mode of operation, the same device is shown to have the functionality of a true random number generator (TRNG). The combination of logic functionality, nonvolatility and capability to generate true random numbers all in the same spin logic device, makes it uniquely suitable as a hardware for many new computing ideas.