Project description
Computing with more efficient and mutually synchronised nanoscopic microwave oscillators
Spin hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs) and spin torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) are promising devices for use in efficient oscillatory computing. In fact, scientists have demonstrated speech recognition using reservoir computing with a network of four magnetic-tunnel-junction STNOs. However, since individual control of its drive current and local magnetic field is required for each STNO, this approach uses more power, lacks speed and isn’t easily scalable to large networks. The EU-funded SPINHALL project aims to tackle these problems and improve the performance and applicability of SHNOs and their networks. To do so, it will employ the latest breakthroughs in topological insulators and low-magnetisation high-anisotropy ferromagnets to improve the SHNO operating frequency, power consumption and mutual synchronisation. This work will help advance large-scale oscillator networks.
Objective
Spin Hall nano-oscillators (SHNOs) are revolutionary nano-scopic, ultra-tunable, and ultra-rapidly modulated microwave oscillators. They show highly attractive ground-breaking properties and have direct compatibility with industry standard CMOS technology due to its similar structure as present-day magnetic memory cells. While their first target applications are ultra-wide frequency tunable microwave signal generators/detectors for cell phones, wireless networks, vehicle radar, and ultrafast spectral analysis applications, the rapidly improved understanding of their non-linear properties and demonstration of mutual synchronization of large numbers of SHNOs make them promising candidate for large-scale oscillator networks. It has been found very recently that spin torque nano-oscillators (STNOs) and SHNOs are ideal candidates for efficient oscillatory computing and a group of researchers demonstrated speech recognition using reservoir computing with a network of four MTJ-STNOs. However, this approach is neither fast (the vortex STNOs operate in the 100-300 MHz range and STNO-STNO coupling is weak) nor easily scalable to large networks since each STNO requires individual control of both its drive current and local magnetic field, which consumes high power. SPINHALL will use the recent breakthroughs in spin Hall devices, materials, and characterization techniques to improve the performance, and applicability of SHNOs and their networks. The primary goal is to use the latest breakthroughs in topological insulators (such as BiSb and BiSe) with their high spin Hall angle and high spin Hall conductivity and low-magnetization high-anisotropy ferromagnets (such as Heusler alloys Mn3 xGa and Mn3+xGe) to improve the SHNO operating frequency by an order of magnitude, the power consumption by several orders of magnitude, and explore improved mutual synchronization and neuromorphic computing using networks of these SHNOs.
Fields of science
- natural sciencescomputer and information sciencesartificial intelligence
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsradio technologyradar
- engineering and technologyelectrical engineering, electronic engineering, information engineeringinformation engineeringtelecommunicationsmobile phones
Keywords
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)Coordinator
405 30 Goeteborg
Sweden