Highly Reliable Magnetic Memory-Based Physical Unclonable Functions

Abstract

Magnetic random-access memory (MRAM), which stores information through control of the magnetization direction, offers promising features as a viable nonvolatile memory alternative, including high endurance and successful large-scale commercialization. Recently, MRAM applications have extended beyond traditional memories, finding utility in emerging computing architectures such as in-memory computing and probabilistic bits. In this work, we report highly reliable MRAM-based security devices, known as physical unclonable functions (PUFs), achieved by exploiting nanoscale perpendicular magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). By intentionally randomizing the magnetization direction of the antiferromagnetically coupled reference layer of the MTJs, we successfully create an MRAM-PUF. The proposed PUF shows ideal uniformity and uniqueness and, in particular, maintains performance over a wide temperature range from −40 to +150 °C. Moreover, rigorous testing with more than 1584 challenge−response pairs of 64 bits each confirms resilience against machine learning attacks. These results, combined with the merits of commercialized MRAM technology, would facilitate the implementation of MRAM-PUFs.