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Picosecond ultralow-power switching device based on an antiferromagnet
Hanshen Tsai1, Takuya Matsuda1, Kouta Kondou2,3
1Department of Physics, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Science (New York, N.Y.)
|May 14, 2026
Summary
Researchers developed ultralow power, picosecond switching devices using antiferromagnetic Mn3Sn and tantalum heterostructures. This breakthrough enables faster, more energy-efficient computing and memory technologies.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Condensed Matter Physics
- Spintronics
Background:
- Current computing architectures face limitations in processing speed and energy efficiency, particularly in nonvolatile switching devices.
- Achieving faster switching speeds (picosecond regime) typically requires excessive write power, hindering practical applications.
- Spin-orbit torque (SOT) switching offers a potential pathway for faster and more efficient device operation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To demonstrate ultrafast (picosecond) and energy-efficient nonvolatile switching using novel material heterostructures.
- To investigate the potential of antiferromagnetic materials for low-power, high-speed memory applications.
- To explore the feasibility of photocurrent-induced switching for optical-to-electrical conversion.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of heterostructures comprising the antiferromagnet Mn3Sn and the heavy metal tantalum.
- Utilizing spin-orbit torque (SOT) switching with electrical pulses as short as 40 picoseconds.
- Characterizing device performance, including switching speed, power consumption, heating, and endurance.
Main Results:
- Achieved ultralow power switching in the picosecond regime (40 ps pulses).
- Demonstrated significantly lower power consumption compared to ferromagnetic devices due to efficient angular momentum transfer.
- Observed reduced heating, enhanced endurance, and successful switching using photocurrent.
Conclusions:
- The developed Mn3Sn/Ta heterostructures enable ultrafast and energy-efficient nonvolatile switching.
- This technology offers a promising solution for overcoming current limitations in computing architectures.
- The findings pave the way for advanced nonvolatile memory and efficient optical-to-electrical conversion technologies.
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