Breakthrough in Quantum Technology: Microscopic Device Controls Electron Spins for Future Electronics

Physicists at USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, Cornell University, and other institutions have developed a microscopic device capable of detecting and controlling electron spins in antiferromagnetic materials. This breakthrough, published in Science, could pave the way for ultrafast and energy-efficient electronics.

Antiferromagnetic materials have electrons spinning in opposite directions, resulting in zero-magnetism, making them fast, stable, and resistant to external magnetic interference. The new device allows for the detection of this quantum behavior without the need for bulky lab equipment, opening up possibilities for practical applications in various technologies.

Antiferromagnets have the potential for high-speed operations, supporting applications such as secure wireless communications, high-resolution medical imaging, airport security scanning, and nano-oscillators for advanced computers and sensors. The device, only a few atoms thick, operates solely on electric signals, eliminating the need for large equipment.

The research received funding from the National Science Foundation and the U.S. Department of Energy, crucial supporters of fundamental research driving future technologies.

The team created a tunnel junction structure consisting of three ultra-thin layers, enabling the detection of antiferromagnetic resonance and the electrical tuning of this resonance using spin-orbit torque. This innovation provides a quantum-scale stethoscope and control knob in one device, allowing for precise manipulation of electron spins.

The device's compact size, working at the micron scale, makes practical applications feasible. By slightly twisting the magnetic layers to break symmetry, the researchers could target and control individual layers with electric current.

Future plans include developing nano-oscillators for various applications and exploring the phenomenon of negative damping to create a powerful terahertz radiation source in a tiny footprint.

Study authors include researchers from USC, Cornell, Columbia University, and Japan's National Institute for Materials Science.

For more information, visit the Cornell University College of Letters, Arts and Sciences’ news website.

According to the source: USC Dornsife.