Spintronics is a research field that is focused on the controlled
manipulation of currents of the quantum-mechanical spin
angular momentum of electrons in atomically engineered
nanostructures. It promises entirely new classes of sensor, memory and
logic devices. Magnetic recording read heads -- initially formed from a
"spin-valve", and more recently using a "magnetic tunnel junction" --
have enabled a 1,000-fold increase in the storage capacity of hard disk
drives since 1997. The very low cost of disk drives coupled with the high
performance and reliability of solid-state memories, may be combined in
the {\it Racetrack Memory} -- a novel three-dimensional technology which
stores information as a series of magnetic domain walls in nanowires,
manipulated by spin-polarized currents. Spintronic devices may even
allow for "plastic" devices that mimic synaptic switches in the brain,
which would allow for the possibility of ultra-low power computing
devices.
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