Spin Currents in #Topological Insulators Controlled tagged posts

The illustration depicts the characteristic spin orientation (arrows) of electrons in a topological insulator (below). Using an initial circular polarised laser pulse, the spins are excited and point up or down. This can be proven by a second linearly polarised laser pulse (above). Credit: HZB

Scientists have shown how spin-polarized currents can be initiated in a controlled manner within samples of topological insulator material. In addition, they were able to manipulate the orientation of the spins of these currents. They thereby demonstrated that this class of materials is suitable for data processing based on spin.

Future information technologies should employ considerably less energy for processing data via topological insulators (with electrons at the surface being extremely mobile, ...