Electrical Modeling of Spin-Torque Diodes Used as Radio Frequency Detectors: A Step-by-Step Methodology for Parameter Extraction

In this article here below, we present an electrical model for nanoscale spintronic radio frequency (RF) detectors called spin-torque diodes (STDs). A complete methodology for model parameter extraction is proposed. An equivalent electrical circuit for STD is derived and includes a modeling of the device resistance nonlinearity together with the STD effect. A detailed step-by-step methodology is presented to extract the model parameters using conventional dc measurements, RF scattering parameters (S-parameters), continuous wave (CW), and power characterizations. After parameter extraction, a comparison with measurements of a single STD successfully validates the model. Finally, the proposed STD electrical model is used to anticipate the behavior of a two-STD-based RF detector architecture. Simulation results highlight the interest of the proposed modeling approach to investigate suitable RF detector architectures to enhance RF-to-dc conversion efficiency for single or multiband RF detection.