A magnetic cell includes: a first ferromagnetic layer whose magnetization is substantially fixed in a first direction; a second ferromagnetic layer whose magnetization is substantially fixed in a second direction opposite to the first direction; a third ferromagnetic layer provided between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers, a direction of magnetization of the third ferromagnetic layer being variable; a first intermediate layer provided between the first and the third ferromagnetic layers; and a second intermediate layer provided between the second and the third ferromagnetic layers. The direction of magnetization of the third ferromagnetic layer can be determined under an influence of spin-polarized electrons upon the third ferromagnetic layer by passing a current between the first and the second ferromagnetic layers.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
This application is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 10/721,549, filed on Nov. 26, 2003 now U.S. Pat. No. 6,956,766 and is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-342447, filed on Nov. 26, 2002. The entire contents of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
A magnetic recording element according to an example of the present invention includes a magnetic free layer whose magnetization is variable in accordance with a current direction passing through a film and whose direction of easy axis of magnetization is a direction perpendicular to a film plane, a magnetic pinned layer whose magnetization is fixed to a direction perpendicular to the film plane, and a non-magnetic barrier layer between the magnetic free layer and the magnetic pinned layer. In the magnetic free layer, a relation between a saturated magnetization Ms (emu/cc) and an anisotropy field Han (Oe) satisfies Han>12.57 Ms, and Han<1.2 E7 Ms.sup.-1+12.57 Ms.
