Scientist takes a spin at better computer hard drives

William Atkins
Thursday, 09 October 2008 19:44

Science - Energy

A Japanese researcher is experimenting with a way to manipulate the spin of electrons in magnetized solids so as to eventually make computer memory devices that produce much less heat than conventional ones.


Fiji Saitoh, from the Department of Applied Physics and Physico-Informatics at Keio University in Yokohama, Japan, has shown that the direction of magnetization in a solid can be controlled (manipulated).

This implies that such manipulation could someday be used to make better data storage devices. An important invention in the very competitive computer industry.

In the September 25, 2008 online issue (455, 474-475, October 9, 2008 in paper form) of the journal Nature, Saitoh has published the paper “Solid-state physics: New order for Magnetism,” which summarizes his work.

Currently, hard disks and other such devices that store computer data use electric currents to run batteries. However, Saitoh and his team of researchers have found a way to, instead, use magnetic currents.

And, in a computer world where smaller is better, such miniaturization leads to overheating from excess heat produced in the process.

However, magnetic currents do not produce heat, so using them can solve the problem of overheating in such computer devices.

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