Physics & Astronomy Colloquium

3:30 PM, Friday, March 24, 2006

Room 155, Chem-Phys Building

Dr. Dan Ralph

Department of Physics
Cornell University

``Manipulating Nanomagnets Using Spin-Polarized Currents''

When a spin-polarized current interacts with a magnet, it can transfer spin angular momentum to the magnet and thereby apply a torque. This spin-transfer effect can be used to manipulate the magnetic-moment direction of small magnets much more efficiently than using magnetic fields. I will discuss experiments designed to understand the microscopic origin of this effect and the ways in which individual nanomagnets respond to the torque . The work sheds light on the fundamental physics of magnets and may also enable important applications for magnetic memory devices and nanoscale oscillators.

Refreshments will be served in CP 155 at 3:15 PM