Radiation-Hard Anti-Tamper Magnetic Patch Memory

This Small Business Innovation Research Phase I project proposal describes a program to research and develop a method for producing a radiation-hard solid-state Magnetic Patch Memory (MPM) deposited on top of a wafer from an untrusted facility and programmed in a trusted facility. MPM can be erased with zero remanence in the event of tampering to render the device it protects impossible to reverse engineer. MPM technology can be added at back end of line processing onto any silicon based complex components that might be produced in foreign foundries. It is ideal for storing encryption keys or codes for digital rights management schemes. Although MPM is a solid-state memory, it is designed using magnetic media similar to a hard disk drive that permits it to be erased with remanent signature reduction exceeding that required for erasure of media containing SECRET data. Depending in the specific application, the proposed MPM can be erased electronically by the system it protects using a current or magnetically in bulk using a degausser or permanent magnet. MPM technology uses thin film magnetic materials and spin dependent tunneling (SDT) sensors that are intrinsically radiation hard.