Specific Synchrotron Radiation Facilities Users Community (SpRUC)

Research in nanospintronics?which harnesses the degrees of freedom of spin and charge to create diverse material functions?originated with the discovery of the giant magnetoresistance effect and its application to magnetic heads. Japan leads the world in this field as the academic foundation for the development of a wide range of products, including non-volatile magnetic memory and microwave oscillators. While there is a significant track record of utilizing SPring-8, which possesses cutting-edge measurement infrastructure, in this field, such use has been limited to small-scale, individual research projects at universities and research institutions. Consequently, the role of SPring-8’s measurement infrastructure in supporting the development of devices required by the research field has remained unclear. In particular, nanospintronics is positioned as a field of industry-academia collaborative research where the discovery and understanding of fundamental phenomena directly lead to innovation. For example, significant advancements have been made in both basic science and engineering, including the observation of the Jarlinski-Moriya interaction at ferromagnic/non-magnetic interfaces, the creation of topological spin structures such as skyrmions, the utilization of spin-orbit torque at ferromagnic/non-magnetic interfaces, and the control of magnetism via electric fields.
This research group will further develop the interdisciplinary research group “Nanodevice Science,” which has been active for five years, into a group focused on nanospintronics research. It will consist of researcher and student members advancing cutting-edge research in nanospintronics through the cross-sectional use of various beamlines at SPring-8 and NanoTerasu. As long as the research utilizes synchrotron radiation, there are no specific restrictions on research methods. We will hold regular study group meetings and symposia to exchange information and discuss the latest research trends both domestically and internationally. Furthermore, by actively disseminating research results, including through international exchange, we aim to demonstrate the presence of SPring-8 and NanoTerasu in the field of nanospintronic research. Additionally, we aim to make proactive proposals regarding beamline performance, research methods, and new scientific frontiers expected from next-generation synchrotron radiation sources, such as SPring-8 II.