Spintronics device used to convert excess heat to energy

Researchers from UCLA demonstrated a Spintronics device that harvests energy from excess heat. The heat created by the computer naturally creates a spin wave, and this wave can be used to move a domain wall (which separates opposing magnetic materials). Basically this domain wall is a turbine that can convert the spin wave in the heat into energy.

Using heat energy to move magnetic domain walls is not new, but this is the first time that researchers demonstrate moving the wall through spin wave propagation.

Source: 
Posted: Apr 24,2013 by Ron Mertens