Ultra-wide-band millimeter-wave generator using spin torque oscillator with strong interlayer exchange couplings

Recent increased development interest in millimeter-wave oscillator devices has necessitated realization of small oscillators with high frequency, wide frequency tunability, and room-temperature operation. Spin-torque oscillators (STOs) are fascinating candidates for such applications because of their nanometer size and suitability for room-temperature operation. However, their oscillation frequency and tunable range are limited to the order of 100 MHz–10 GHz. Here, we propose use of bilinear (J₁) and biquadratic (J₂) interlayer exchange couplings between ferromagnets in STOs to overcome these problems. The bilinear coupling contributes to oscillation frequency enhancement, whereas the biquadratic coupling facilitates frequency tunability via a current. Using micromagnetic simulation with parameters estimated from a material with small saturation magnetization, for J₁ = 0 and J₂ = − 1.0 mJ/m², respectively, we find that the STO exhibits high frequency from 23 to 576 GHz and that its tunability reaches 61 GHz/(10¹¹ A/m²) for current densities of − 0.5 to − 9.5 × 10¹¹ A/m². An analytical theory based on the macrospin model is also developed, which exhibits good quantitative agreement with the micromagnetic simulations. These results introduce new possibilities for spintronics applications in high-frequency devices such as next-generation mobile communications.