Record fast spintronics from KTH and Gothenburg University
Record high frequencies for data communications with spintronic oscillators. Results achieved by researchers at KTH and Gothenburg University may be a breakthrough for the superfast wireless home electronics of the future.
Frequencies of more than 46 gigahertz in spintronic oscillators – these are results that hit the roof of all the available measuring apparatus. Researchers at KTH, Gothenburg University and Everspin Technologies in USA have achieved a major breakthrough within the spintronics research field.
These results have been presented in a study published in the journal Applied Physics Letters. By extrapolating the results, researchers are convinced that they will be able to generate frequencies of more than 65 gigahertz, which will create totally new opportunities for wireless data communications in the home.
“Our results show that spintronic oscillators are able to cover several octaves within the gigahertz area. In principle this means that previously unutilised frequency bands can be opened for broadband wireless communications, for example streamed HDTV and other home electronics,” says Johan Åkerman, Professor at the Department of Physics of Gothenburg University and researcher at KTH.
Spintronics enables the large-scale storage capacity of modern home computers. Spintronics utilises the magnetic properties of electrons to create extremely rapid data transfer.
Computers with spintronic memories, MRAM, start up in a second as the operative system does not need to be fetched from the hard disk but is already in the working memory. This may revolutionise the technology involved in planes’ “black boxes” so that information can be saved more securely and for a longer period of time. But the spintronic oscillator will also probably improve the performance of everything from smart mobile phones to wireless networks and radar technology for cars.
Spintronic oscillators may also be very useful in road safety and may be included in the next generation of car radar systems.
“The technology is already there, however high cost levels stop a broader application. Spintronic oscillators may reduce costs to perhaps one quarter which would mean much greater impact for a technology that has proved to save lives on the roads,” says Johan Åkerman.
Håkan Soold