Microwave Amplification by Spin Transfer Emission (MASTER)

Basic data for this project

Type of project: EU-project hosted outside University of Münster
Duration: 01/09/2008 - 29/02/2012

Description

The intended aim of this project is to explore the application potential of novel Spin-Transfer Oscillators (STO) as tunable and ultra-narrow band microwave radiation sources for mobile and wireless telecommunication technology. The main technological interest of STO devices, which correspond to nano-structured magnetic multilayer pumped by a spin-polarized electrical current and emitting microwave radiation, is their compatibility with monolithic integration. Our proposal specifically addresses the bottleneck issue of power conversion efficiency between dc current pumping and microwave emission of radiation. We propose to take advantage of the phase-locking mechanisms between coupled oscillators to increase significantly the device performance. Our primary objective is to engineer large arrays of coherently coupled oscillators. To achieve this goal, we shall investigate in detail 4 different types of coupling mechanism between neighboring oscillators which may induce phase-locking of the ensemble: - coupling through the self-generated microwave current, - coupling through the dipolar magnetic field, - coupling through the spin-diffusion of the conduction electrons, - coupling mediated by spin-waves.

Keywords: Spintronics; Spin Transfer Oscillators; Arrays of Coherent Nano MASER; Magnetic Resonance Microscopes; Spin-Wave Spectroscopy; Microwave Components; Mobile and Wireless Technology