October 29, 2019
Keio University
A research group led by Associate Professor Kazuya Ando of the Faculty of Science and Technology at Keio University has established design principles for maximizing the performance of spintronics devices, which are anticipated as a next-generation electronic technology.
Modern electronic devices operate by utilizing the electrical properties of electrons. However, electrons possess not only the electrical property of "charge" but also the magnetic property of "spin." Spintronics is a new electronic technology that utilizes the spin of electrons in addition to their charge to create high-performance, low-power electronic devices. The functionality of spintronics devices relies on the electrical control of the magnetization (N/S poles) of magnetic materials (magnets). Recently, a method utilizing spin-orbit interaction within the device to control magnetization has garnered attention. The torque generated by this interaction (spin-orbit torque) enables the operation of various spintronics devices, including memory elements that combine high speed and non-volatility.
This research group has discovered that the key to maximizing the performance of such spintronics devices is the precise control of the electron density distribution within the device. This finding has, for the first time, revealed the importance of designing spintronics devices at the atomic level. It is expected that further fundamental research on new phenomena will accelerate the development of ultra-high-speed, low-power spintronics devices.
The results of this research will be published in the American scientific journal "Science Advances" on November 2, 2019 (local time).
For the full press release, please see below.