Device implications of spin-transfer torques

This article examines spin-transfer torques from the perspective of three technological applications: hard disk drives, magnetic random access memory (MRAM), and current-tunable high-frequency oscillators. In hard disk drives, spin-transfer torques are a source of noise, and we discuss the implications spin-transfer noise will have on future sensor designs. For MRAM, we evaluate the feasibility of spin-transfer-driven switching. Finally, we discuss the possibility of GHz communication applications enabled by nanoscale spin-transfer oscillators. (c) 2007 Elsevier B. V. All rights reserved.