Method and system for providing magnetic junctions having a graded magnetic free layer

Abstract

A method and system provide a magnetic junction usable in a magnetic device. The magnetic junction includes a pinned layer, a nonmagnetic spacer layer, and a free layer. The nonmagnetic spacer layer is between the pinned layer and the free layer. The free layer has a gradient in a critical switching current density (Jc0) such that a first Jc0 of a first portion of the free layer is lower than a second Jc0 of a second portion of the free layer. The second portion of the free layer is further from the nonmagnetic spacer layer than the first portion is. The magnetic junction is configured such that the free layer is switchable between a plurality of stable magnetic states when a write current is passed through the magnetic junction.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.