Micro-electromechanical memory bit based on magnetic repulsion

TL;DR

This paper introduces a micro-mechanical memory bit utilizing magnetic repulsion, where the bistable states are controlled by magnetic interactions, offering a potential low-energy memory storage solution.

Contribution

It presents a novel micro-mechanical memory device based on magnetic repulsion with a tunable non-linear response and provides a predictive model for its behavior.

Findings

The system exhibits bistability controlled by magnetic interaction.

Energy required to store a bit is bounded by the energy barrier.

The model accurately predicts the system's behavior.

Abstract

A bistable micro-mechanical system based on magnetic repulsion is presented exploring its applicability as memory unit where the state of the bit is encoded in the rest position of a deflected cantilever. The non-linearity induced on the cantilever can be tuned through the magnetic interaction intensity between the cantilever magnet and the counter magnet in terms of geometrical parameters. A simple model provides a sound prediction of the behavior of the system. Finally we measured the energy required to store a bit of information on the system that, for the considered protocols, is bounded by the energy barrier separating the two stable states.