The role of ferromagnets and antiferromagnets for spintronic memory applications and their impact in data storage

Abstract

The manipulation of multifunctional properties associated with ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic materials has a great impact in information technology and digital data storage. A relatively recent field called spintronics is a promising alternative technology to store data more efficiently and to overcome obstacles that conventional electronics face. This article provides a small introduction to spintronic devices used for memory applications such as hard disk drives and MRAM, and details ways by which magnetization inside magnetic layers such as ferromagnets can be flipped. The giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect and its successor in developing memory devices; the tunnelling magnetoresistance (TMR) effect are also discussed since they are key in developing magnetic memory devices.