Spin caloritronics is the science and technology of controlling heat currents using the electron spin degree of freedom. It combines thermoelectrics with spintronics and nanomagnetism. The field has gained renewed attention due to its potential in addressing the thermodynamic limitations of Moore's Law, where further miniaturization leads to increased energy dissipation. Spin caloritronics explores spin, charge, and entropy/energy transport in materials and nanoscale devices, including spin-dependent thermal conductance, Seebeck and Peltier effects, and thermal spin transfer torque. Spin caloritronics is closely related to solutions for managing heat in nanoscale systems.
The field began in the late 1980s with theoretical insights into spin-charge-heat coupling in metallic heterostructures. Experimental work started in the 1990s, particularly in magnetic multilayer nanowires. Recent developments include the spin Seebeck effect, where a temperature gradient in a ferromagnet generates a spin current in a normal metal, which is converted into a measurable voltage via the inverse spin Hall effect. Other phenomena include the magneto-Seebeck effect, thermal Hall effects, and thermal spin transfer torques.
Spin caloritronics involves the coupling of spin and heat currents, with effects such as the spin Hall effect and current-induced spin transfer torques. The study of spin waves (magnons) and their interaction with phonons is also important. Thermal spin transfer torques can induce magnetization dynamics, and spin caloritronic effects are observed in spin valves, magnetic tunnel junctions, and magnetic textures.
The field has seen significant progress in understanding spin-dependent thermoelectric phenomena, including the magneto-Peltier and Seebeck effects, thermal Hall effects, and spin caloritronic heat engines and motors. The spin Seebeck effect has been observed in metals, YIG, and ferromagnetic semiconductors. Theoretical and experimental studies continue to explore the potential of spin caloritronics for applications in heat management and spintronic devices. The field is expected to play a key role in future nanoscale technologies.Spin caloritronics is the science and technology of controlling heat currents using the electron spin degree of freedom. It combines thermoelectrics with spintronics and nanomagnetism. The field has gained renewed attention due to its potential in addressing the thermodynamic limitations of Moore's Law, where further miniaturization leads to increased energy dissipation. Spin caloritronics explores spin, charge, and entropy/energy transport in materials and nanoscale devices, including spin-dependent thermal conductance, Seebeck and Peltier effects, and thermal spin transfer torque. Spin caloritronics is closely related to solutions for managing heat in nanoscale systems.
The field began in the late 1980s with theoretical insights into spin-charge-heat coupling in metallic heterostructures. Experimental work started in the 1990s, particularly in magnetic multilayer nanowires. Recent developments include the spin Seebeck effect, where a temperature gradient in a ferromagnet generates a spin current in a normal metal, which is converted into a measurable voltage via the inverse spin Hall effect. Other phenomena include the magneto-Seebeck effect, thermal Hall effects, and thermal spin transfer torques.
Spin caloritronics involves the coupling of spin and heat currents, with effects such as the spin Hall effect and current-induced spin transfer torques. The study of spin waves (magnons) and their interaction with phonons is also important. Thermal spin transfer torques can induce magnetization dynamics, and spin caloritronic effects are observed in spin valves, magnetic tunnel junctions, and magnetic textures.
The field has seen significant progress in understanding spin-dependent thermoelectric phenomena, including the magneto-Peltier and Seebeck effects, thermal Hall effects, and spin caloritronic heat engines and motors. The spin Seebeck effect has been observed in metals, YIG, and ferromagnetic semiconductors. Theoretical and experimental studies continue to explore the potential of spin caloritronics for applications in heat management and spintronic devices. The field is expected to play a key role in future nanoscale technologies.