Researchers use magnetic systems to artificially reproduce the learning and forgetting functions of the brain

Computational architectures are proving to be insufficient with the advent of Big Data. Difficulties in decreasing transistors, large power consumption, and limited operating speeds make neuromorphic computing a promising alternative.

Artificial neural networks are used to reproduce the activity of biological synapses. The ON position corresponds to the information retention or learning, while theOFF position corresponds to the information deletion.

In a recent publication, scientists from the University of Barcelona, the CNR-SPIN, the Catalan Institute ofNanoscience and Nanotechnology, and the Institute of Micro and Nanotechnology were mentioned. The project was led by Serra Húnter Fellow Enric Men and ICREA researcher Jordi Sort, both at the Department of Physics of the UAB.

A new approach to mimic functions.

Most systems used for this purpose were controlled by electric currents. The proposal was to use magneto-ionics, a non-volatile control of the magnetic properties of materials, which would greatly decrease power consumption and make data storage energy efficient.

The motion of oxygen at room temperature can take several seconds or even minutes to change the magnetic state. The team investigated the use of materials with crystal structures that already contained the ion. Such targets can be converted from a non-ferromagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state by the motion of oxygen towards the target and vice-versa.

The fabrication of the films was done with cobalt oxides, which ranged in thickness from 5 to 230nm. The thinner the films, the faster the generation of magnetization was reached, according to the researchers.

The samples were analyzed at the BOREAS beamline of the ALBA Synchrotron. XAS was used to determine the composition and oxidation state of the films, which resulted in different films for the thinner and thickest ones. Understanding the differences in the motion of oxygen between films was important.

The operating speeds achieved in this work were similar to the ones used for neuromorphic computing. The effects related to learning neuromorphic capabilities and the results provided evidence that magneto-ionic systems can emulate them.

Magnetic memories and spintronics will benefit from the results of this study. The combination of magnetic memories with energy efficient magneto-ionics could be a way to reduce the operational energies for next-generation data storage media.

More information: Sofia Martins et al, Dynamic electric-field-induced magnetic effects in cobalt oxide thin films: towards magneto-ionic synapses, Nanoscale (2021). DOI: 10.1039/D1NR06210G Journal information: Nanoscale Citation: Researchers use magnetic systems to artificially reproduce the learning and forgetting functions of the brain (2022, February 21) retrieved 21 February 2022 from https://phys.org/news/2022-02-magnetic-artificially-functions-brain.html This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.