Spintronics: How spin can act on charge carriers and vice versa Tomas Jungwirth University of Nottingham Institute of Physics Prague
Reading by GMR (TMR) Writing by STT STT-MRAM Fert, Grünberg, et al. 1988 Nobel Prize 2007 Sloncyewski, Berger, 1996 Buckley Prize at APS MM 2013
Read-out: non-relativistic giant magnetoresistance (GMR) Ie Ie Fert, Grünberg, et al. 1988 Nobel Prize 2007
Read-out: non-relativistic giant magnetoresistance (GMR) Fert, Grünberg, et al. 1988 Nobel Prize 2007 Antiferromagnetic arrangement of a ferromagnetic multilayer at B=0
Writing information in spin-valve: towards spintronic memory (MRAM) 1. AFM coupling between FMs at B=0 FM FM FM 2. One FM flips harder than the other FM Soft FM Hard FM Soft FM Hard FM 3. One FM pinned by AFM material Fixed FM AFM Soft FM Fixed FM AFM Soft FM
Towards reliable switching of a particular MRAM bit Fixed FM NM AFM Soft FM
Toggle switching first commercial MRAMs FM “Synthetic AFM“ FM Fixed FM AFM
Writing by current: non-relativistic spin-transfer torque (STT) Spins injected from external polarizer in a non-uniform magnetic structure Mp M Ie Sloncyewski, Berger, 1996 Buckley Prize at APS MM 2013
MRAM: universal memory Write with magnetic field: on market since 2006 scales with current Write with current (STT-MRAM): on market since 2013 scales with current density
MRAM: universal memory Compatible with CMOS GB MRAMs in few years
Conventional architecture with CMOS New architectuture with MRAM kB MB GB huge gap TB
Worldwide MRAM development
Spin-transistor Datta, Das, APL 1990
Conventional architecture with CMOS New architectuture with spin-memory/logic
Read-out: non-relativistic giant magnetoresistance (GMR) Ie Ie Fert, Grünberg, et al. 1988 Nobel Prize 2007
Read-out: relativistic anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) Spintronic effect 150 years ahead of time M Ie Kelvin, 1857
Read-out: relativistic anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) Spintronic effect 150 years ahead of time M Ie Kelvin, 1857
Two paradigms for spintronics “Mott“ non-relativistic two-spin-channel model of ferromagnets I I Mott, 1936 “Dirac“ relativistic spin-orbit coupling I I Dirac, 1928
2 2 Spin-orbit coupling nucleus rest frame electron rest frame Lorentz transformation Thomas precession
Spin-orbit coupling: quantum relativistic physics
Spin-orbit coupling: quantum relativistic physics Dirac equation
Spin-orbit coupling: quantum relativistic physics
Ultra-relativistic quantum particles (neutrino) Dirac equation spin and orbital motion coupled
Ultra-relativistic quantum particles (neutrino) Dirac equation spin and orbital motion coupled
Ultra-relativistic quantum particles (neutrino) Dirac equation spin and orbital motion coupled
Ohmic “Dirac“ device: AMR Kelvin, 1857 Magnetization-orientation-dependent scattering
Ohmic “Mott“ device: GMR Fert, Grünberg, 1988 Spin-channel-dependent scattering
Tunneling “Mott“ device: TMR Julliere 1975, Moodera et al., Miyazaki & Tezuka 1995 MRAM Spin-channel-dependent tunneling DOS
Tunneling “Dirac“ device: TAMR Gould, TJ et al. PRL ‘04 Magnetization-orientation-dependent tunneling DOS
Magnetization-orientation-dependent chemical potential Chemical potential controlled “Dirac“ device Wunderlich, TJ et al. PRL ‘06
Magnet Dielectric M Non-magnetic channel I I Dirac spintronic device without current through magnet I I Chemical potential of magnetic gate changes Charge on magnetic gate changes Polarisation charge on non-magnetic channel Magnet - + Dielectric - + M Non-magnetic channel Ciccarelli, Ferguson, TJ et al. APL ‘12
Magnet Dielectric M Non-magnetic channel I I Dirac spintronic device without current through magnet I I Chemical potential of magnetic gate changes Charge on magnetic gate changes Polarisation charge on non-magnetic channel Magnet - + Dielectric - + M Non-magnetic channel Ciccarelli, Ferguson, TJ et al. APL ‘12
Magnet Dielectric M Non-magnetic channel I I Dirac spintronic device without current through magnet I I Chemical potential of magnetic gate changes Charge on magnetic gate changes Polarisation charge on non-magnetic channel Magnet - + Dielectric - + M - + Non-magnetic channel - + - + Ciccarelli, Ferguson, TJ et al. APL ‘12
DVg = Dm/e Dirac spintronic device without current through magnet Ciccarelli, Ferguson, TJ et al. APL ‘12
Direct approach to spin-transistor Inverted approach to spin-transistor
Direct approach to spin-transistor Inverted approach to spin-transistor
Direct approach to spin-transistor Inverted approach to spin-transistor
Direct approach to spin-transistor Inverted approach to spin-transistor
Direct approach to spin-transistor Inverted approach to spin-transistor