The Magnetic Materials Center was launched in April 2006 to carry out fundamental research on magnetic and spintronics materials for data storage and energy saving. The center carries out the research on the development of magnetic thin films for and spintronics devices for data storage applications. In addition, fundamental researches for the development of high performance permanent magnes and soft magnetic materials for automotive applications are being perfomed. Unlike other industrial laboratories, this center emphasizes the understanding of the structure-property relationships of the magnetic and spintronics materials and their devices rather than aiming at the immediate industrial applications. Comprehensive researches are conducted by close collaborations of three groups in the center, Magnetic Materials Group, Spintronics Group, and Nanostructure Analysis Group. Collaborations with industrial laboratories are also actively performed to carry out fundamental researches. This center was organized inheriting the core members of the "Metallic Nanostructure Group" therefore, the key interest of the center is not only the development of magnetic and spintronics materials, but also is structure-relationships of materials. Therefore, activities on nanostructure analysis including the development of the atom probe technique and structure-property relationships of materials other than magnetic materials are also continued within the center.

Introduction to Magnetic Materials Center

Managing Director: K. Hono
Emeritus Fellow: K. Inomata

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

Development of hard/soft magnetic materials, high density recording media, and search of half-metallic materials and its application to mangetoresistive devices

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

Development of new materials and nanostructures, such as full-Heusler alloys and double-barrier tunnel junctions, for spintronics devices and study on their novel spintronic properties and functionality, including non-equilibrium phenomena and fast spin dynamics etc.

Nanostructure Analysis Group
Group Leader: T. Ohkubo
Multiscale characterization of functional materials such as soft/hard magnetic materials, spintronics, semiconductor devices and high strength materials using SEM-FIB, TEM and 3DAP techniques to obtain understanding of structure-property relationshipos. Keeping state-of-the-art nanostructure analysis techniques, including the development of laser assisted 3DAP.
Collaborating Group
Materials Engineering Laboratory, Nanostructured Condensed Matter Dynamics Group　M. Hayashi

Spin dynamics in magnetic nanostructures, including spin transfer torque driven microwave emission, current driven domain wall motion, generation of spin currents and interaction with spin waves, ferromagnetic resonance and magnetization dynamics, current driven magnetization switching. Low dimensional oxide nanostructures including electronic, magnetic and optical properties of oxide nanowires, and time resolved measurements of metal-insulator phase transitions.