Spintronics

Spintronics uses electron spin as well as electric charge to store, transmit, or process information. Its devices exploit spin-dependent transport and magnetic states.

Tunnel magnetoresistance: A change in tunneling resistance between two magnetic layers separated by a thin insulating barrier, depending on their magnetization alignment. Magnetic tunnel junctions use this effect to read spin-dependent states.
Magnetoresistive random-access memory: Nonvolatile memory that stores bits in magnetic states and reads them through magnetoresistance. It is the leading commercial application of spintronic device physics.
Albert Fert: A French physicist whose research on metallic multilayers led to the discovery of giant magnetoresistance. His group reported giant magnetoresistance independently in 1988.
Electron spin: An intrinsic quantum angular momentum of the electron, associated with measurable magnetic moment. Spintronics exploits this degree of freedom alongside electron charge.
Charge-based electronics: Electronics that encode and manipulate information primarily through the motion or accumulation of electric charge. Spintronics adds magnetic state and spin transport to charge-based operation.
Spin-transfer torque: The transfer of angular momentum from a spin-polarized current to a magnet, capable of changing its magnetization. It enables current-driven switching without a separate magnetic field.
Spin-transfer torque magnetic RAM: A type of magnetoresistive memory that switches magnetic bits using spin-transfer torque. Its write mechanism targets dense, nonvolatile memory with low standby power.
Peter Grünberg: A German physicist whose work on magnetic multilayers led to the discovery of giant magnetoresistance. His independent 1988 discovery helped establish the field's experimental foundation.
Spin current: A flow of spin angular momentum, which may occur with or without a net flow of electric charge. It describes how spin information moves through a device.
Semiconductor spintronics: Spintronics implemented in semiconductor materials, where electrical, optical, and magnetic techniques can control electron spin. It contrasts with metallic spintronics through its focus on spin injection and control in semiconductors.

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