News Release

Semiconductor spintronics to revolutionize the electronics industry

Technical Insights Futuretech Alert

Business Announcement

Technical Insights




San Jose, Calif. -- May 27, 2003-- Ongoing research into spintronics, a method aimed at enabling spin-polarized current flow through semiconductors, is likely to result in a new class of multifunctional electronics.

Practical spintronics incorporate existing microelectronic manufacturing techniques. It involves the development of many electronic devices that include ferromagnetic materials. It is enabling the development of ultra-fast switches and fully programmable all-spintronics microprocessors that can combine logic, storage and communications on a single chip.

"Superior optical properties of semiconductors and their ability to amplify both optical and electrical signals will form the basis for these developments, which will eventually contribute to the emergence of semiconductor spintronics," says Technical Insights Analyst Charles Joslin.

However, the viability of this technology is greatly dependant on devising economic ways to combine ferromagnetic metals and semiconductors in integrated circuits. This is a demanding task, given the differences in crystal structure and chemical bonding.

In addition, these ferromagnetic semiconductors should have Curie temperatures above the room temperature and have the ability to incorporate both p-type and n-type dopants.

Challenges also exist in determining efficient ways to inject spin-polarized currents into a semiconductor; in recognizing the properties at boundaries between different types of semiconductors; and in developing the ability to retain polarization. Moreover, for greater spin polarization, concentrated materials that are capable of allowing Zeeman splitting of the conduction band are required.

"The scope of semiconductor spintronics hinges on the development of techniques for injection, transportation, and detection of spin-polarized currents without using strong magnetic fields, which will also be effective at or above room temperature," concludes Joslin.

New analysis by Technical Insights, a business unit of Frost & Sullivan (www.technicalinsights.frost.com), featured in the Futuretech Alert, presents a comprehensive overview of spintronics techniques that are currently under development and likely to have a significant impact on microelectronics in the future.

###

Frost & Sullivan is a global leader in strategic market consulting and training. Acquired by Frost & Sullivan, Technical Insights is an international technology analysis business that produces a variety of technical news alerts, newsletters, and reports. The ongoing analysis on spintronics technologies is covered in Futuretech Alert, a Technical Insights subscription service. Interviews are available to the press.

Futuretech Alert

Contact:
USA:
Julia Paulson
Media Relations Executive
P: 210.247.3870
F: 210.348.1003
E: jpaulson@frost.com

APAC:
Pramila Gurtoo
DID: (603) 6204 5811
Gen:(603) 6204 5800
Fax: (603) 6201 7402
E: pgurtoo@frost.com

www.frost.com
www.Technical-Insights.frost.com


Disclaimer: AAAS and EurekAlert! are not responsible for the accuracy of news releases posted to EurekAlert! by contributing institutions or for the use of any information through the EurekAlert system.