Title: Orthogonal-Easy-Axis Magnetic Tunnel Junction Facilitates Signed Spiking Neuron Operation

Signed spiking neurons are capable of conveying more complex information than their conventional counterparts. To leverage this advantage, this study introduces a compact neuron architecture based on a magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) designed for signed leaky integrate-and-fire (LIF) functionality. By incorporating orthogonal easy axes within both the free and pinned layers, the device supports the generation of bipolar spikes, effectively translating magnetic-moment dynamics into the evolution of signed LIF membrane potentials.

Simulations utilizing the Landau–Lifshitz–Gilbert equation demonstrate that optimizing the free-layer dimensions ensures the device’s behavior aligns with the signed LIF mathematical model. A specific configuration measuring 10 nm × 45 nm × 50 nm yields an aspect ratio of approximately 2:9:10. When this fitted device-neuron model was employed in network evaluations, it attained accuracy rates of 91.06% on the CIFAR-10 dataset and 77.40% on CIFAR10-DVS, thereby preserving the majority of the performance benefits associated with ideal signed LIF neurons.

Source: arXiv Generated at: 2026-06-03 00:00:00 UTC