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.
