General principles of spin transistors and spin logic devices

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of the field of spin-based devices, circuits, and architectures for digital information processing. Electron spin-as opposed to electron charge-is used as a classical degree of freedom to encode binary bits, and this approach improves the energy efficiency of information processing. However, there are also disadvantages associated with unreliability, difficulty of reading and writing information, and sometimes the need for cryogenic operation. These issues are discussed exhaustively, pointing the readers to niche applications where spin-based devices may offer some advantage. Both the basic and the applied aspects of spintronic information processing are discussed.