The Combined Effect of Spin-Transfer Torque and Voltage-Controlled Strain Gradient on Magnetic Domain-Wall Dynamics:Toward Tunable Spintronic Neuron

Magnetic domain wall(DW), as one of the promising information carriers in spintronic devices, have been widely investigated owing to its nonlinear dynamics and tunable properties. Here, we theoretically and numerically demonstrate the DW dynamics driven by the synergistic interaction between current-induced spin-transfer torque(STT) and voltage-controlled strain gradient(VCSG) in multiferroic heterostructures. Through electromechanical and micromagnetic simulations, we show that a desirable strain gradient can be created and it further modulates the equilibrium position and velocity of the current-driven DW motion. Meanwhile, an analytical Thiele's model is developed to describe the steady motion of DW and the analytical results are quite consistent with the simulation data. Finally, we find that this combination effect can be leveraged to design DW-based biological neurons where the synergistic interaction between STT and VCSG-driven DW motion as integrating and leaking motivates mimicking leaky-integrate-and-fire(LIF) and self-reset function. Importantly, the firing response of the LIF neuron can be efficiently modulated, facilitating the exploration of tunable activation function generators, which can further help improve the computational capability of the neuromorphic system.

Voltage-controllable magnetic skyrmion dynamics for spiking neuron device applications

Voltage-controlled magnetic skyrmions have attracted special attention because they satisfy the requirements for well-controlled high-efficiency and energy saving for future skyrmion-based neuron device applications.In this work,we propose a compact leaky-integrate-fire(LIF)spiking neuron device by using the voltage-driven skyrmion dynamics in a multiferroic nanodisk structure.The skyrmion dynamics is controlled by well tailoring voltage-induced piezostrains,where the skyrmion radius can be effectively modulated by applying the piezostrain pulses.Like the biological neuron,the proposed skyrmionic neuron will accumulate a membrane potential as skyrmion radius is varied by inputting the continuous piezostrain spikes,and the skyrmion radius will return to the initial state in the absence of piezostrain.Therefore,this skyrmion radius-based membrane potential will reach a definite threshold value by the strain stimuli and then reset by removing the stimuli.Such the LIF neuronal functionality and the behaviors of the proposed skyrmionic neuron device are elucidated through the micromagnetic simulation studies.Our results may benefit the utilization of skyrmionic neuron for constructing the future energy-efficient and voltage-tunable spiking neural networks.