Physics of Nanoscale Epitaxial and Textured Spintronic Structures

该奖项支持自旋电子学领域的实验研究和教育。该项目需要合成外延磁性纳米结构，用于系统控制自旋极化电流的传输和能谱。该研究将针对自旋电子学中的突出问题的理解，这是基础和应用必不可少的。特别是，将进行单晶半金属中的单磁畴壁电阻的测量，以及利用预期的大磁畴壁电阻的纳米结构的开发。该项目还旨在研究具有周期性磁畴壁的纳米结构，并使用巡回自旋电流来刺激由这种周期性产生的修改后的自旋波激发。实验方法包括变温磁输运研究、外延化学气相沉积、磁控溅射和亚微米光刻。学生将接受培训，他们将获得先进的实验技术和材料加工的尖端技能。将努力从科学界代表性不足的群体中招募学生，包括妇女和少数民族，参加这项研究。半导体技术在小型化方面面临着严峻的挑战。 未来的电子学很可能依赖于电子自旋的基本属性。自旋电子学关注几个同样重要的问题，涉及高度自旋极化的固体和微观系统中的自旋输运。这个个人研究奖支持一个利用电子自旋来创造新电子设备的项目。特别是，将进行半金属中磁畴壁电阻的测量，以及利用预期的大磁畴壁电阻的纳米结构的开发。该项目还旨在研究具有周期性磁畴壁的纳米结构，并使用巡回自旋电流来刺激由这种周期性产生的修改后的自旋波激发。这项活动的主要影响将是培训人力资源。学生将接受培训，他们将获得先进的实验技术和材料加工的尖端技能。将努力从科学界代表性不足的群体中招募学生，包括妇女和少数民族，参加这项研究。这项研究将产生新的知识和新的自旋电子纳米结构的数据。新的自旋电子器件将被发明出来，并适用于现有解决方案不足的应用领域。

Technical Abstract This award supports experimental research and education in the field of spintronics. The project entails synthesis of epitaxial magnetic nanostructures for systematic control of the transport and energy spectra of spin-polarized current. The research will be directed toward the understanding of outstanding issues in spintronics, which are both fundamental and essential to applications. In particular, measurements of the single magnetic-domain-wall resistance in single crystal half-metals will be carried out as well as the development of nanostructures that will take advantage of the expected large domain-wall resistance. The project also aims at investigating nanostructures with periodic magnetic domain walls, and using itinerant spin currents to stimulate the modified spin-wave excitations arising from this periodicity. Experimental methods include variable-temperature magnetotransport studies, epitaxial chemical vapor deposition, magnetron sputtering, and submicron lithography. Students will be trained and they will acquire cutting edge skills in advanced experimental techniques and materials processing. There will be efforts to recruit students from underrepresented groups in science, including women and minorities, to participate in this research. Non-technical AbstractSemiconductor technology is facing severe challenges in miniaturization. Future electronics will likely rely on the fundamental attribute of electron spin. Spintronics concerns itself with several, equally important issues, related to highly spin-polarized solids and spin transport in microscopic systems. This individual investigator award supports a project to harnesses the electron's spin to create new electronics devices. In particular, measurements of the magnetic-domain-wall resistance in half-metals will be carried out as well as the development of nanostructures that will take advantage of the expected large domain-wall resistance. The project also aims at investigating nanostructures with periodic magnetic domain walls, and using itinerant spin currents to stimulate the modified spin-wave excitations arising from this periodicity. The primary impact of the activity will be the training of human resources. Students will be trained and they will acquire cutting edge skills in advanced experimental techniques and materials processing. There will be efforts to recruit students from underrepresented groups in science, including women and minorities, to participate in this research. This research will generate new knowledge and data on novel spintronic nanostructures. New spintronic devices will be invented and adapted to applications areas where existing solutions are inadequate.