Enhanced Permeability Dielectrics in Nanomagnet Logic

Nanomagnet logic (NML) is a novel paradigm to realize low-power, non-volatile digital logic. Low-power operation is the most important benefit of NML operation, which relies on magnetic ordering. Central to NML operation, hard-axis fields are required to place the magnets into a metastable state for re-evaluation, a process referred to as 'nulling' or 'clocking.' Resistive losses in the clock wires are the dominant power dissipation source in this scheme, so it is imperative that the highest clocking efficiency be achieved. In this dissertation, a method of lowering the power dissipation in the NML system is proposed. Enhanced permeability dielectrics (EPD), which is an MgO dielectric matrix with embedded superparamagnetic CoFe particles, is fabricated and integrated with the nanomagnets to reduce their nulling clock field. By doing so, the power dissipation of the whole NML system can be lowered. The prerequisite for studying the effect of EPD is the understanding of nanomagnets. Thus, magnetic switching behavior, magnetization states and coupling of nanomagnets are studied via various magnetic metrologies to understand the physics of nanomagnet switching in the context of NML.