Data storage medium for storing data as a polarization of a data magnetic field and method and apparatus using spin-polarized electrons for storing the data onto the data storage medium and reading the stored data therefrom

A method of reading data stored as a direction of polarization of a data magnetic field, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a spin-polarized electron having an electron magnetic field, the electron magnetic field having a direction of polarization corresponding to one of first and second data values;
• directing the spin-polarized electron at the data magnetic field;
• detecting, as the first data value, a deflection of the spin-polarized electron by the data magnetic field when the direction of polarization of the data magnetic field is opposite the direction of polarization of the electron magnetic field;
• and
• detecting, as the second data value, an attraction of the spin-polarized electron by the data magnetic field when the direction of polarization of the data magnetic field is the same as the direction of polarization of the electron magnetic field.

A method of reading data stored as a direction of polarization of a data magnetic field created in a magnetic medium, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a spin-polarized electron having an electron magnetic field, the electron magnetic field having a direction of polarization corresponding to one of first and second data values;
• directing the spin-polarized electron at the data magnetic field so that the magnetic medium produces a secondary electron, the secondary electron having a first characteristic corresponding to the first data value when the direction of polarization of the data magnetic field is opposite the direction of polarization of the electron magnetic field and the secondary electron having a second characteristic corresponding to the second data value when the direction of polarization of the data magnetic field is the same as the direction of polarization of the electron magnetic field;
• and
• detecting the first or second characteristic of the secondary electron.

An apparatus for reading data stored as a direction of polarization of a data magnetic field, comprising:

• an electron source for providing a spin-polarized electron having an electron magnetic field, the electron magnetic field having a direction of polarization corresponding to one of first and second data values;
• an electron deflector for directing the spin-polarized electron at the data magnetic field;
• and
• an electron detector for detecting, as the first data value, a deflection of the spin-polarized electron by the data magnetic field when the direction of polarization of the data magnetic field is opposite the direction of polarization of the electron magnetic field and detecting, as the second data value, an attraction of the spin-polarized electron by the data magnetic field when the direction of polarization of the data magnetic field is the same as the direction of polarization of the electron magnetic field.

An apparatus for reading data stored as a direction of polarization of a data magnetic field created in a magnetic medium, comprising:

• an electron source for providing a spin-polarized electron having an electron magnetic field, the electron magnetic field having a direction of polarization corresponding to one of first and second data values;
• an electron deflector for directing the spin-polarized electron at the data magnetic field so that the magnetic medium produces a secondary electron, the secondary electron having a first characteristic corresponding to the first data value when the direction of polarization of the data magnetic field is opposite the direction of polarization of the electron magnetic field and the secondary electron having a second characteristic corresponding to the second data value when the direction of polarization of the data magnetic field is the same as the direction of polarization of the electron magnetic field;
• and
• an electron detector for detecting the first or second characteristic of the secondary electron.

A data storage device comprising:

• a substrate;
• a data storage layer formed on the substrate, the data storage layer including a fixed number of atomic layers of a magnetic material, the fixed number of atomic layers providing the data storage layer with a magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a surface of the data storage layer;
• and
• a data magnetic field created in the data storage layer, the data magnetic field being polarized either in a first direction perpendicular to the surface of the data storage layer and corresponding to a first data value or in a second direction opposite the first direction and corresponding to a second data value,
• wherein the data storage layer comprises Fe arranged in a body centered tetragonal lattice having an average thickness of three atomic layers.

A data storage device comprising:

• a substrate;
• a data storage layer formed on the substrate, the data storage layer including a fixed number of atomic layers of a magnetic material, the fixed number of atomic layers providing the data storage layer with a magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a surface of the data storage layer;
• and
• a data magnetic field created in the data storage layer, the data magnetic field being polarized either in a first direction perpendicular to the surface of the data storage layer and corresponding to a first data value or in a second direction opposite the first direction and corresponding to a second data value,
• wherein the data storage layer further includes an alignment area.

A data storage device comprising:

• a substrate;
• a data storage layer formed on the substrate, the data storage layer including a fixed number of atomic layers of a magnetic material, the fixed number of atomic layers providing the data storage layer with a magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a surface of the data storage layer;
• and
• a data magnetic field created in the data storage layer, the data magnetic field being polarized either in a first direction perpendicular to the surface of the data storage layer and corresponding to a first data value or in a second direction opposite the first direction and corresponding to a second data value,
• wherein the data storage layer has at least one of a three dimensional curved surface and a planar surface.