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Artificial Neuron and Synapse Realized in an Antiferromagnet/Ferromagnet Heterostructure Using Dynamics of Spin–Orbit Torque Switching
Author(s) -
Kurenkov Aleksandr,
DuttaGupta Samik,
Zhang Chaoliang,
Fukami Shunsuke,
Horio Yoshihiko,
Ohno Hideo
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
advanced materials
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 10.707
H-Index - 527
eISSN - 1521-4095
pISSN - 0935-9648
DOI - 10.1002/adma.201900636
Subject(s) - neuromorphic engineering , spintronics , magnetization dynamics , materials science , memristor , pulse (music) , torque , artificial neural network , computer science , synapse , ferromagnetism , biological system , electronic engineering , voltage , neuroscience , condensed matter physics , physics , magnetization , artificial intelligence , engineering , magnetic field , quantum mechanics , biology
Efficient information processing in the human brain is achieved by dynamics of neurons and synapses, motivating effective implementation of artificial spiking neural networks. Here, the dynamics of spin–orbit torque switching in antiferromagnet/ferromagnet heterostructures is studied to show the capability of the material system to form artificial neurons and synapses for asynchronous spiking neural networks. The magnetization switching, driven by a single current pulse or trains of pulses, is examined as a function of the pulse width (1 s to 1 ns), amplitude, number, and pulse‐to‐pulse interval. Based on this dynamics and the unique ability of the system to exhibit binary or analog behavior depending on the device size, key functionalities of a synapse (spike‐timing‐dependent plasticity) and a neuron (leaky integrate‐and‐fire) are reproduced in the same material and on the basis of the same working principle. These results open a way toward spintronics‐based neuromorphic hardware that executes cognitive tasks with the efficiency of the human brain.