An MRAM memory cell is provided having a layer system made of
circular-disk-shaped layers. The memory cell includes first and second
magnetic layers separated by a nonmagnetic intermediate layer. The first
magnetic layer exhibits hard-magnetic behavior and serves as a reference
layer. The second magnetic layer exhibits soft-magnetic behavior and
serves as a storage layer. An antiferromagnetic layer may be provided on
the storage layer. Information is stored by the magnetization state of
the storage layer. The storage layer has a weak intrinsic anisotropy that
defines a magnetic preferred direction. The magnetization direction of
the reference layer is parallel to the magnetization direction of a
remanent magnetization in the interior of the storage layer. The remanent
magnetization occurs as a result of applying an external magnetic field
with a field component perpendicular to the preferred direction of the
intrinsic anisotropy of the storage layer.