Scientists at Saratov State University (SSU) have developed an innovative technology that helps control the magnetic properties of materials. This could lead to the creation of super-fast computing devices that will consume 10-100 times less energy than modern counterparts.
The development is related to the field of science and technology called spintronics. It is associated with the creation, research and application of electronic devices in which the electron spin, along with its charge, is used to obtain, process and transmit information. The key task of spintronics is the electrical control of the magnetic properties of materials. The use of an electric field to change their magnetization significantly reduces heat loss, which is becoming the main disadvantage of traditional development methods, SSU reported.
Scientists described their development as a "sandwich" of two materials. The bottom layer is a piezoelectric material that can be compressed or stretched under electrical voltage. These mechanical changes are transferred to the upper magnetic material - hematite (α-Fe₂O₃).
We were able to show that when voltage is applied, it is possible to significantly (up to 10%) change the frequency of the so-called antiferromagnetic resonance - a kind of main note on which this magnetic material "sounds".
According to researchers, the practical significance of the project lies in creating the basis for a new generation of high-speed and energy-efficient devices operating in the giga- and sub-terahertz ranges.