Theory predicts that metal electrodes offer control over spin waves, but physicists have barely seen such results in experiments until now. “The development of our research group is that we reveal that we can undoubtedly manage spin waves appropriately if we use a superconducting electrode,” states Toeno van der Sar, Associate Professor in the Department of Quantum Nanoscience.
Superconducting Mirror
That supercurrent acts as a mirror for the spin wave: the superconducting electrode reflects the magnetic field back to the spin wave. The superconducting mirror triggers spin waves to move up and down more gradually, and that makes the waves easily controllable.
An illustration of the experiment. The illustration shows 2 gold electrodes on top of a thin magnetic layer. In the center lies a superconducting electrode. With the left gold electrode, the researchers generate spin waves in the magnetic material, which take a trip to the right. On top of the electrodes is a square diamond membrane, which allows the researchers to see right through the superconducting electrode. Credit: Michael Borst, TU Delft
” We began with a thin magnetic layer of yttrium iron garnet (YIG), called the best magnet on Earth. We laid a superconducting electrode and another electrode to induce the spin waves. By cooling to -268 degrees, we got the electrode into a superconducting state,” Van der Sar states. “It was amazing to see that the spin waves got slower and slower as it got chillier. That offers us a special manage to control the spin waves; we can deflect them, reflect them, make them resonate and more. But it also offers us remarkable new insights into the properties of superconductors.”
Special Sensor
The researchers imaged the spin waves by measuring their electromagnetic field with an unique sensing unit, something that was vital to the experiment. Van der Sar: “We utilize electrons in diamond as sensing units for the electromagnetic fields of the spin waves. Our laboratory is pioneering that strategy. The cool aspect of it is that we can check out the nontransparent superconductor at the spin waves beneath, much like an MRI scanner can look through the skin into somebodys body.”
New Circuits
” Spin wave innovation is still in its infancy,” Borst states. “For example, to make energy-efficient computers with this technology, we first have to start building little circuits to perform calculations. Our discovery opens a door: superconducting electrodes allow many new and energy-efficient spin-wave circuits.”
” We can now design devices based on spin waves and superconductors that produce little heat and acoustic waves,” Van der Sar adds. “Think of the spintronics version of frequency filters or resonators, elements that can be discovered in electronic circuits of cell phones. Or circuits that can serve as transistors or adapters between qubits in a quantum computer.”
Reference: “Observation and control of hybrid spin-wave– Meissner-current transport modes” by M. Borst, P. H. Vree, A. Lowther, A. Teepe, S. Kurdi, I. Bertelli, B. G. Simon, Y. M. Blanter and T. van der Sar, 26 October 2023, Science.DOI: 10.1126/ science.adj7576.
Researchers at Delft University of Technology have actually successfully controlled spin waves on a chip using superconductors, a possible game-changer for energy-efficient technology and quantum computing.
Physicists use superconductors to control spin waves on a chip, leading the way for energy-efficient tech and quantum computer system developments.
Quantum physicists at Delft University of Technology have actually shown that its possible to control and control spin waves on a chip using superconductors for the very first time. These small waves in magnets may provide an alternative to electronic devices in the future, intriguing for energy-efficient info technology or linking pieces in a quantum computer system, for example. The development, published in Science, mostly offers physicists new insight into the interaction between magnets and superconductors.
Energy-Efficient Substitute
” Spin waves are waves in a magnetic material that we can use to transmit details,” explains Michael Borst, who led the experiment. “Because spin waves can be a promising foundation for an energy-efficient replacement for electronic devices, researchers have actually been searching for an efficient method to manage and control spin waves for many years.”
That supercurrent acts as a mirror for the spin wave: the superconducting electrode shows the magnetic field back to the spin wave. The superconducting mirror causes spin waves to move up and down more slowly, and that makes the waves easily controllable. With the left gold electrode, the researchers produce spin waves in the magnetic material, which take a trip to the. We laid a superconducting electrode and another electrode to induce the spin waves.” We can now design gadgets based on spin waves and superconductors that produce little heat and sound waves,” Van der Sar adds.