Nanomagnets challenge transistors

Magnetic-computing research team at TUM

Researchers at the Technische Universität München (TUM) have demonstrated a new kind of building block for digital integrated circuits which uses 3D arrangements of nano-scale magnets instead of transistors.

In a 3D stack of nanomagnets, the researchers have implemented a so-called majority logic gate, which could serve as a programmable switch in a digital circuit.

A reversal of polarity represents a switch between Boolean logic states.

The state of the device is determined by three input magnets, one of which sits 60nm below the other two, and is read out by a single output magnet.

Magnetic circuits are non-volatile, have extremely low energy consumption and can operate at room temperature and resist radiation. They can allow very dense packing. The most basic building blocks, the individual nanomagnets, are comparable in size to individual transistors.

Furthermore, where transistors require contacts and wiring, nanomagnets operate purely with coupling fields. Also, in building CMOS and nanomagnetic devices that have the same function – for example, a so-called full-adder – it can take fewer magnets than transistors to get the job done.

Finally, the potential to break out of the 2D design space with stacks of 3D devices makes nanomagnetic logic competitive.

TUM’s Irina Eichwald explains: “The 3D majority gate demonstrates that magnetic computing can be exploited in all three dimensions, in order to realize monolithic, sequentially stacked magnetic circuits promising better scalability and improved packing density.”

“It is a big challenge to compete with silicon CMOS circuits,” adds lead researcher Dr Markus Becherer, “however, there might be applications where the non-volatile, ultralow-power operation and high integration density offered by 3D nanomagnetic circuits give them an edge.”

Image: TUM – Magnetic-computing research team at TUM: from left, Stephan Breitkreutz, Irina Eichwald, Markus Becherer. Photo: U. Benz/TUM

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