Large Diode Sensitivity of CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB Magnetic Tunnel Junctions

Abstract

We report on rf current-induced excitation of the ferromagnetic resonance in CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB magnetic tunnel junctions under a perpendicular magnetic field. By choosing an appropriate external field and using an Fe-rich CoFeB free layer, the effective precession of the free layer could be excited. In a measurement of homodyne detection, a large dc output voltage of 180 µV was obtained when an rf signal power of -25 dBm was applied. The sensitivity of this junction, as an rf rectifier, reaches about 170 mV/mW (280 mV/mW after impedance matching correction), which is the same order compared with that of a Schottky diode operated at room temperature.