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Spin Electronics

Module PH2034

This module handbook serves to describe contents, learning outcome, methods and examination type as well as linking to current dates for courses and module examination in the respective sections.

Module version of SS 2016

There are historic module descriptions of this module. A module description is valid until replaced by a newer one.

Whether the module’s courses are offered during a specific semester is listed in the section Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature below.

available module versions
SS 2022SS 2021SS 2020SS 2019SS 2018SS 2017SS 2016SS 2011

Basic Information

PH2034 is a semester module in German language at Master’s level which is offered in summer semester.

This Module is included in the following catalogues within the study programs in physics.

  • Specific catalogue of special courses for condensed matter physics
  • Specific catalogue of special courses for Applied and Engineering Physics
  • Complementary catalogue of special courses for nuclear, particle, and astrophysics
  • Complementary catalogue of special courses for Biophysics

If not stated otherwise for export to a non-physics program the student workload is given in the following table.

Total workloadContact hoursCredits (ECTS)
150 h 60 h 5 CP

Responsible coordinator of the module PH2034 in the version of SS 2016 was Mathias Weiler.

Content, Learning Outcome and Preconditions

Content

1) Magnetoelectronics - positive magnetoresistance - negative magnetoresistance - anisotropic magnetoresistance - AMR (spin-orbit coupling and magnetic resistance) - Colossal magnetoresistance - CMR (manganates, Goodenough-Kanamori-Anderson rules, super and double exchange) - giant magnetoresistance - GMR (Oscillating exchange coupling, exchange anisotropy, artificial antiferromagnets, Intrinsic and extrinsic GMR) - Spin Valves - tunnel magnetoresistance - TMR (elastic tunneling through 1D barriers, conductor/ insulator /conductor, conductor/ insulator /superconductor contacts, ferromagnet / insulator / superconductor contacts, quasiparticles density of states in superconductors, density and spin polarization in ferromagnet ferromagnet / insulator / ferromagnet contacts and Julliere model, band structure effects, spin-filter) - Unusual magnetoresistance - EMR  2) spintronics - spin injection into semiconductors - spin-LEDs and spin-transistors 3) applications - XMR sensors - magnetoresistive read heads, hard drives - Magnetic Random Access Memory - MRAM 

Learning Outcome

After successful completion of this module, the student is able

  1. to understand explain and compare magneto-Resisitive effects (anistrope magnetoresistance, colossal magnetoresistance, giant magnetoresistance, tunneling magnetoresistance)
  2. to describe the magnetization and magnetoresistance curves of ferromagnetic layers and multilayers as a function of the magnetic field
  3. to name elemental ferromagnets, some technically relevant soft and hard magnetic materials, as well as typical materials in magneto-electronic layer structures with the appropriate material parameters (Curie temperature, remanence, coercive field)
  4. to calculate magnetoresistance effects with Boltzmann transport theory and tunneling theory in the one-dimensional limit
  5. to describe ferromagnet / superconductor and ferromagnet / insulator / superconductor contacts 
  6. to designate and analyze applications for magneto-resistive effects. 

Preconditions

No preconditions in addition to the requirements for the Master’s program in Physics.

Courses, Learning and Teaching Methods and Literature

Courses and Schedule

TypeSWSTitleLecturer(s)DatesLinks
VO 2 Spin Electronics Hübl, H. Tue, 14:00–15:30, virtuell
eLearning
documents
UE 1 Tutorial to Spin Electronics Hübl, H. Tue, 15:30–16:15, virtuell
and dates in groups
eLearning
documents

Learning and Teaching Methods

Lecture, beamer and blackboard presentation, discussion

Media

Übungsblätter, begleitende Internetseite

Literature

  • R. Gross & A. Marx, Vorlesungsskript Spinelektronik, Walther-Meissner-Institut, Garching (2005).
  • S. Blundell, Magnetism in Condensed Matter, Oxford University Press, New York (2001).
  • R.C. O'Handley, Modern magnetic materials - principles and applications, Wiley, New York (2000)
  • D.D. Awschalom, D. Loss, N. Samarth (eds.), Semiconductor Spintronics and Quantum Computation, Springer, Berlin (2002).
  • S. Maekawa (ed.), Concepts in Spin Electronics, Oxford University Press, New York (2006).

Module Exam

Description of exams and course work

In an oral exam the learning outcome is tested using comprehension questions and sample problems.

In accordance with §12 (8) APSO the exam can be done as a written test. In this case the time duration is 60 minutes.

Exam Repetition

The exam may be repeated at the end of the semester. There is a possibility to take the exam in the following semester.

Current exam dates

Currently TUMonline lists the following exam dates. In addition to the general information above please refer to the current information given during the course.

Title
TimeLocationInfoRegistration
Exam to Spin Electronics
Mon, 2024-02-05 till 23:55 Dummy-Termin. Lehrveranstaltungen zu diesem Modul waren im SS 2023. Wenden Sie sich zur individuellen Terminvereinbarung an die/den Prüfer(in). Anmeldung für Prüfungstermin vor 23.03.2024. // Dummy date. Courses to this module were in SS 2023. Contact examiner for individual appointment. Registration for exam date before 2024-Mar-23. till 2024-01-15 (cancelation of registration till 2024-02-04)
Mon, 2024-03-25 till 23:55 Dummy-Termin. Lehrveranstaltungen zu diesem Modul waren im SS 2023. Wenden Sie sich zur individuellen Terminvereinbarung an die/den Prüfer(in). Anmeldung für Prüfungstermin zwischen 25.03.2024 und 20.04.2024. // Dummy date. Courses to this module were in SS 2023. Contact examiner for individual appointment. Registration for exam date between 2024-Mar-25 and 2024-Apr-20. till 2024-03-24
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