Microscopic and macroscopic spin transport phenomena
Spintronics is the field concerned with the control of electron spin. In logic devices electron charge is manipulated, in computer data storage the magnetisation of a domain is altered; spintronics offers a hybrid between the two. This could be exploited in non-volatile random access memory cells fo...
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ndltd-bl.uk-oai-ethos.bl.uk-7026642018-06-06T15:27:02ZMicroscopic and macroscopic spin transport phenomenaMurphy, Benedict AndrewO'Grady, Kevin ; Hirohata, Atsufumi2016Spintronics is the field concerned with the control of electron spin. In logic devices electron charge is manipulated, in computer data storage the magnetisation of a domain is altered; spintronics offers a hybrid between the two. This could be exploited in non-volatile random access memory cells for low power data storage. All-metal Lateral spin-valve devices were fabricated by electron beam lithography to investigate spin transport phenomena. The fabrication and measurement processes were optimised and lateral spin-valve devices were successfully fabricated with spin diffusion lengths of (200±25) nm and (310±30) nm in 100 nm and 200 nm wide Copper wires respectively. Spin filtering was previously observed by patterning nano-scale wires to be laterally asymmetric. Here, nano-scale wires were patterned to have a laterally symmetric spin diffusion path. No increase in signal due to the filtering effect was observed, thus confirming the phenomenological model put forward. Also, the spin diffusion path in a lateral spin valve was split into a ring geometry. By applying a field gradient across the ring, the operational efficiency was improved by 30%. The observation of a mechanically induced spin current has been achieved for the first time. The design of an optical measurement system that rotates a sample at up to 200~Hz is presented here. Deviation in the moment on the surface of a paramagnetic Tungsten foil from the moment induced by the Barnett effect confirms that a spin current may be induced by mechanical rotation. In summary, design and development of magneto-electrical and mechano-optical measurement systems has been achieved. The improvement in the operational efficiency in lateral spin-valves could be used alongside materials such as Heusler alloys to provide cheaper efficient logic devices. The observation of a mechanically induced spin current in Tungsten precedes the future study of the effect in other paramagnetic materials, such as Platinum or Palladium.621.381University of Yorkhttp://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.702664http://etheses.whiterose.ac.uk/15520/Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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621.381 Murphy, Benedict Andrew Microscopic and macroscopic spin transport phenomena |
description |
Spintronics is the field concerned with the control of electron spin. In logic devices electron charge is manipulated, in computer data storage the magnetisation of a domain is altered; spintronics offers a hybrid between the two. This could be exploited in non-volatile random access memory cells for low power data storage. All-metal Lateral spin-valve devices were fabricated by electron beam lithography to investigate spin transport phenomena. The fabrication and measurement processes were optimised and lateral spin-valve devices were successfully fabricated with spin diffusion lengths of (200±25) nm and (310±30) nm in 100 nm and 200 nm wide Copper wires respectively. Spin filtering was previously observed by patterning nano-scale wires to be laterally asymmetric. Here, nano-scale wires were patterned to have a laterally symmetric spin diffusion path. No increase in signal due to the filtering effect was observed, thus confirming the phenomenological model put forward. Also, the spin diffusion path in a lateral spin valve was split into a ring geometry. By applying a field gradient across the ring, the operational efficiency was improved by 30%. The observation of a mechanically induced spin current has been achieved for the first time. The design of an optical measurement system that rotates a sample at up to 200~Hz is presented here. Deviation in the moment on the surface of a paramagnetic Tungsten foil from the moment induced by the Barnett effect confirms that a spin current may be induced by mechanical rotation. In summary, design and development of magneto-electrical and mechano-optical measurement systems has been achieved. The improvement in the operational efficiency in lateral spin-valves could be used alongside materials such as Heusler alloys to provide cheaper efficient logic devices. The observation of a mechanically induced spin current in Tungsten precedes the future study of the effect in other paramagnetic materials, such as Platinum or Palladium. |
author2 |
O'Grady, Kevin ; Hirohata, Atsufumi |
author_facet |
O'Grady, Kevin ; Hirohata, Atsufumi Murphy, Benedict Andrew |
author |
Murphy, Benedict Andrew |
author_sort |
Murphy, Benedict Andrew |
title |
Microscopic and macroscopic spin transport phenomena |
title_short |
Microscopic and macroscopic spin transport phenomena |
title_full |
Microscopic and macroscopic spin transport phenomena |
title_fullStr |
Microscopic and macroscopic spin transport phenomena |
title_full_unstemmed |
Microscopic and macroscopic spin transport phenomena |
title_sort |
microscopic and macroscopic spin transport phenomena |
publisher |
University of York |
publishDate |
2016 |
url |
http://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.702664 |
work_keys_str_mv |
AT murphybenedictandrew microscopicandmacroscopicspintransportphenomena |
_version_ |
1718692305519509504 |