Perfect and robust phase-locking of a spin transfer vortex nano-oscillator to an external microwave source

Journal Article · Mon Jan 13 00:00:00 EST 2014 · Applied Physics Letters

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.4862326· OSTI ID:22275727

Hamadeh, A.; Klein, O. ^[1]; Locatelli, N.; Lebrun, R.; Grollier, J.; Cros, V. ^[2]; Naletov, V. V. ^[1]

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1. Service de Physique de l'État Condensé (CNRS URA 2464), CEA Saclay, 91191 Gif-sur-Yvette (France)
2. Unité Mixte de Physique CNRS/Thales and Université Paris Sud 11, 1 av. Fresnel, 91767 Palaiseau (France)

We study the synchronization of the auto-oscillation signal generated by the spin transfer driven dynamics of two coupled vortices in a spin-valve nanopillar to an external source. Phase-locking to the microwave field h{sub rf} occurs in a range larger than 10% of the oscillator frequency for drive amplitudes of only a few Oersteds. Using synchronization at the double frequency, the generation linewidth is found to decrease by more than five orders of magnitude in the phase-locked regime (down to 1 Hz, limited by the resolution bandwidth of the spectrum analyzer) in comparison to the free running regime (140 kHz). This perfect phase-locking holds for frequency detuning as large as 2 MHz, which proves its robustness. We also analyze how the free running spectral linewidth impacts the main characteristics of the synchronization regime.

• OSTI ID: 22275727
• Journal Information: Applied Physics Letters, Vol. 104, Issue 2; Other Information: (c) 2014 AIP Publishing LLC; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0003-6951
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS
GENERAL PHYSICS
MHZ RANGE 01-100
MICROWAVE RADIATION
OSCILLATIONS
SPIN
SYNCHRONIZATION