The Magnetic Materials Unit coducts comprehensive researches on all kind of magnetic and spintronics materials for potential industrial applications. The dvelopement of high performance magnetic materials make substantial contributions in saving energy. For example, the development of high performance permanent magnets and soft magnetic materials improves efficiencies in electric vehicles, industrial motors, and wind generators. Increasing the areal density of hard disk drives (HDDs) by utilizing advanced magnetic recording media and magnetic sensors leads to substantial electric power saving in data storage for cloud computing. The development of new type of memory and devices using magnetic materials can save standby power of computers and other electric utilities as electric currents can be put only when needed.



We carry out fundamental researches on various magnetic materials that are required for data storage and energy saving including the development of magnetic thin films for ultrahigh density magnetic recording media, spin valves for read head sensors in the hard disk drive (HDD) systems, and spintronics devices for magnetic random memory (MRAM) applications. In addition, fundamental research for the development of high performance permanent magnetic materials for automotive applications will be perfomed. Unlike other industrial laboratories, this center emphasizes the understanding of the structure-property relationships of the magnetic materials and their devices rather than aiming at the immediate industrial applications of magnetic and spntronics devices. These researches are conducted by close collaborations of three groups in the unit, Magnetic Materials Group, Spintronics Group, and Nanostructure Analysis Group. Many collaborative investigations with industrial laboratories are also carried out.

Director: K. Hono

Magnetic Materials Group
Group Leader: K. HonoChief Researcher: T. Furubayashi  Senior Researcher: Y. Takahashi

Studies of magnetic and spintronics materials for data storage and energy saving, i.e. magnetic recording media and read sensors for ultrahigh density hard disk drives (HDDs), search of new ferromagnetic materials with high spin polarization, high coercivity rare earth permanent magnets and high magnetix flux density soft magnetic materials.

Spintronics Group
Group Leader: S. Mitani, Senior Researcher: S. Kasai, Researcher: H. Sukegawa


Spintronics is a new branch of electronics, which contributes development of novel architectures and low energy consumption in devices. Our main topics are (i) development of new materials and nanostructures, such as full-Heusler alloys and double-barrier tunnel junctions, for spintronics devices and (ii) study on their novel spintronic properties and functionality, including non-equilibrium phenomena and fast spin dynamics etc.

Nanostructure Analysis Group
Group Leader: T. Ohkubo

In order to understand the relationship between structure and properties of functional materials such as soft/hard magnetic materials, spintronics, semiconductor devices and high strength materials, we are applying SEM-FIB, TEM and 3DAP techniques from micro to atomic scale complementary. Also, we are working on development of laser assisted 3DAP, and the improvement. It might be possible to apply this new technique for all kinds of inorganic materials due to the recent progress.