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Researchers Spin Out Smaller Electronics Than Ever

Posted by Zonk on from the can-i-borrow-your-illustrated-primer dept.

schliz writes "Scientists have found a more efficient way to harness the spin of an electron to store and process information. The new technology, dubbed 'spintronics', has potentials in the development of nanoscale devices that are much more energy efficient than current charge-based electronic devices. Researchers expect the new technology to be incorporated in computing circuitry within the next decade."

3 of 45 comments (clear)

  1. Fundamentals... by BrianKHud · · Score: 4, Insightful
    To save you the time -

    Here's one I haven't heard before?

    ...Current day electronics are predominantly charge-based; that is, electrons are given more or less electric charge...

    Millikan says otherwise if I recall...

    Another strong point. . .

    ...does not require any physical movement of the electron and is achieved simply by changing its orientation


    Last I checked, only politicians could change orientation without physically moving. . .

    Currently, spintronics-based memory chips are being used in memory marketed by Texas-based Freescale Semiconductors, as well as data retrieval devices like those in Apple's iPods. The technology has not yet been incorporated in computing circuitry in any major way;


    Sorry, now I just have to ask who reviewed this article for sanity...
    --
    He who controls the past, commands the future... He who controls the future conquers the past.
    1. Re:Fundamentals... by bh_doc · · Score: 4, Informative

      Last I checked, only politicians could change orientation without physically moving. . .
      "Electron spin" is a misnomer. The electron is not really spinning. This is just a name for the particular quantum mechanical property that causes the electron to deflect one way or another when travelling through a magnetic field.

      So, besides being wrong or misleading in other areas, the article is actually right about the electron not physically moving in order to change it's spin orientation. As has been pointed out, it does require energy, however. Supposedly this is less than the typically required voltage change.
  2. Thermal Relaxation by bh_doc · · Score: 5, Interesting

    What is completely ignored in TFA is the effect of thermal relaxation. After a while the effect of heat "leaks" into the spin causing it to revert back to a random (mixed) state. To avoid the effect altogether would require 0 K temperature, i.e. it's impossible.

    There are possibly ways to mitigate the effect, though. I'd like to know what the company pushing this memory tech has come up with to this end (and whether or not it actually works). Anyone know?