We have observed low-frequency noise due to quasiequilibrium thermal magnetization fluctuations in micron-scale magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs). This strongly field-dependent magnetic noise occurs within the magnetic hysteresis loops, either as $1/f$ or Lorentzian (random telegraph) noise. We attribute it to the thermally excited hopping of magnetic domain walls between pinning sites. Our results show that magnetic stability is a crucial factor in reducing the low-frequency noise in small MTJs.

• Received 30 March 2000

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.85.3289