Spintronics - p367

Fabio Pulizzi

doi:10.1038/nmat3327

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New moves of the spintronics tango - pp368 - 371

Jairo Sinova and Igor Žutić

doi:10.1038/nmat3304

The ability of spintronics to re-energize itself in directions that germinate new subfields has made it one of the most fertile grounds for basic research aimed at future applications. A brief overview of the connections between five emerging subfields suggests exciting things to come.

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Current-induced torques in magnetic materials - pp372 - 381

Arne Brataas, Andrew D. Kent and Hideo Ohno

doi:10.1038/nmat3311

Spin-transfer torque is the rotation that a spin-polarized current induces on the magnetization of the solid it flows through. The way in which currents generate torques in a wide variety of magnetic materials and structures is discussed in this Review, as well as recent state-of-the-art demonstrations of current-induced-torque devices that show great promise for enhancing the functionality of semiconductor devices.

Abstract - Current-induced torques in magnetic materials | Full text - Current-induced torques in magnetic materials | PDF (1.21MB) - Current-induced torques in magnetic materials

Spin Hall effect devices - pp382 - 390

Tomas Jungwirth, Jörg Wunderlich and Kamil Olejník

doi:10.1038/nmat3279

The spin Hall effect is a relativistic spin–orbit coupling phenomenon, which can be used to electrically generate or detect spin currents in non-magnetic systems. This Review discusses the experiments that have established the basic physical understanding of the effect, and the role that several of the spin Hall devices have had in the demonstration of spintronic functionalities and physical phenomena.

Abstract - Electron tomography and holography in materials science | Full text - Spin Hall effect devices | PDF (1.74MB) - Spin Hall effect devices

Spin caloritronics - pp391 - 399

Gerrit E. W. Bauer, Eiji Saitoh and Bart J. van Wees

doi:10.1038/nmat3301

Spin caloritronics focuses on the interaction of electron spins with heat currents. This Review describes newly discovered physical effects that have re-invigorated the field by stimulating further research into understanding the fundamentals of spin–phonon interactions, and providing new avenues to explore to improve current thermoelectric technology.

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Silicon spintronics - pp400 - 408

Ron Jansen

doi:10.1038/nmat3293

Control of the electron spin as well as its charge is predicted to lead to efficient electronic devices, with potentially new functionalities. Injecting and manipulating spin-polarized carriers in silicon is a natural step towards integrating spintronics with current technology. This Review describes the first encouraging results as well as the open questions and challenges that still remain.

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Spintronics and pseudospintronics in graphene and topological insulators - pp409 - 416

Dmytro Pesin and Allan H. MacDonald

doi:10.1038/nmat3305

Graphene and topological insulator two-dimensional electron systems are described by massless Dirac equations. Although the two systems have similar Hamiltonians, they are polar opposites in terms of spin–orbit coupling strength. The status of efforts to achieve long spin-relaxation times in weakly spin–orbit-coupled graphene, and large current-induced spin-polarizations in strongly spin–orbit-coupled topological insulator surface states are reviewed in this Progress Article.

Abstract - Spintronics and pseudospintronics in graphene and topological insulators | Full text - Spintronics and pseudospintronics in graphene and topological insulators | PDF (1.09MB) - Spintronics and pseudospintronics in graphene and topological insulators