Spintronics: computation and memory technology using electron spin

Here's a nice video explaining Tsukuba University's Spin-Filters research:

Scientists from UCLA say they created a new class of material with magnetic properties in a dilute magnetic semiconductor (DMS) system. By using a type of quantum structure, they've been able to push the ferromagnetism above room temperature. 

Ferromagnetic coupling in DMS systems, the researchers say, could lead to a new breed of magneto-electronic devices that alleviate the problems related to electric currents. The electric field–controlled ferromagnetism reported in this study shows that without passing an electric current, electronic devices could be operated and functioning based on the collective spin behavior of the carriers. This holds great promise for building next-generation nanoscaled integrated chips with much lower power consumption.

Via AZONano

A group led by Professor Hideo Ohno in the Laboratory of Nanoelectronics and Spintronics, at Tohoku University is working to develop new integrated circuits using spintronics. The ICs store data in nonvolatile memory using magnetism (MRAM), so their standby power can be made zero. This memory utilizes the tunnel magneto-resistance effect.

A short clip explaining the Spintronics materials research done at the Takanashi laboratory in Tohoku University in Japan:

Osaka's university has a Spintronics research group that is working towards MRAM and STT-RAM using several materials including Graphene. Here's a nice intro video about the group:

Spintronics-Info was upgraded today (if anyone is interested, we upgraded to Drupal 6.x from 5.8) Most of the changes are infrastructure related so you won't notice much, but hopefully the site should be faster now, more stable and more secure.

If you do find any bugs, glitches or you have any comments, please let us know!

Organic spintronics is a young field of research with ample current and future potential applications, including spin-valves used in reading and writing modes of magnetic information and memory devices, magnetic field effects on conductivity and electroluminescence, and optically detected magnetic resonance dynamics. The U.S. Department of Defense has invested half a million dollars to further the field of quantum spin-based electronics and the science behind this technology won the 2007 Nobel Prize in Physics. This book discusses in depth the latest discoveries in the field, including a look at the various materials and applications involved.

Amazon link: 

Organic Spintronics

A Princeton-led team of scientists has observed electrons in a semiconductor on the brink of the metal-insulator transition for the first time. Caught in the act, the electrons formed complex patterns resembling those seen in turbulent fluids, confirming some long-held predictions and providing new insights into how semiconductors can be turned into magnets. The work also could lead to the production of smaller and more energy-efficient computers.

Read more over at AzoMaterials

We've got some more information about the SPIN project we reported on yesterday. They have a web site, and it contains some more information on the project, and its 3 objectives:

The SPIN project aims at demonstrating the potential impact and competitiveness of a new generation of components incorporating in a single chip nanoscience spintronics elements and CMOS technology. The basic proof of concept has already been brought that integration of these different technologies can provide highly innovative components, with the potential to become generic parts for many different products covering health, energy monitoring, domotics, automotive, aeronautics, and electronics. This project is thus focused on the development of a comprehensive set of three key demonstrators carefully chosen to provide a wide validation of such functionalities. These three objectives share very similar underlying technologies, so there is a large part of common work in their development, and our consortium gathers comprehensive expertise at the leading edge of the area.
Each demonstrator will be delivered with a report on the risk of industrialization, the life time targeted and the security and environmental impact, which will serve as basis for future industrialization.

Objective 1 : Magnetic FPGAs

The objective will be to design a magnetic FPGA which will incorporate finely distributed Magnetic Tunnel Junctions (MTJs) for non volatile storage and configuration purposes above of a CMOS core circuit. In complement of existing high density FPGAs, it will provide better versatility with intrinsic reconfigurability, instant on/off and energy saving. Such FPGAs can be used as general purpose standalone products. In the SPIN project, the FPGA will be targeted to provide intelligent processing of the magnetometers and sensors developed in objectives 2 and 3.