Creating spin-transfer torque in oscillators and memories

An integrated circuit comprising:

• an electrically conductive material possessing spontaneous magnetization;
• an electrically resistive material possessing spontaneous magnetization;
• wherein the electrical conductive material and the electrically resistive material do not contact each other;
• a spacer comprising atomically unbound electrons to transfer spin between the electrically resistive material and the electrically conductive material;
• wherein the electrically resistive material comprises a crystalline material having only electrons bound to atomic nuclei to constitute ions, the crystalline material lacking free electrons;
• and
• wherein the electrically resistive material further comprises an atomic monolayer in contact with the crystalline material, and the atomic monolayer comprises atomic nuclei with electrons having unbalanced spin;
• and
• wherein the spacer is in direct contact with the electrically resistive material.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• an electrically conductive material possessing spontaneous magnetization;
• an electrically resistive material possessing spontaneous magnetization;
• wherein the electrical conductive material and the electrically resistive material do not contact each other;
• a spacer comprising atomically unbound electrons to transfer spin between the electrically resistive material and the electrically conductive material;
• wherein the spacer is in direct contact with the electrically resistive material;
• a heat sink having greater thermal conductance than the electrically resistive material;
• wherein said heat sink is located in direct thermal contact with at least one of the electrically resistive material, the electrically conductive material and the spacer;
• a thermal barrier having smaller thermal conductance than the electrically resistive material;
• and
• a heating element in thermal contact with each of the thermal barrier and the electrically conductive material.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• an electrically conductive material possessing spontaneous magnetization;
• an electrically resistive material possessing spontaneous magnetization;
• wherein the electrical conductive material and the electrically resistive material do not contact each other;
• a spacer comprising atomically unbound electrons to transfer spin between the electrically resistive material and the electrically conductive material;
• a heat sink having greater thermal conductance than the electrically resistive material;
• wherein said heat sink is located in direct thermal contact with at least one of the electrically resistive material, the electrically conductive material and the spacer;
• and
• a heating element located in thermal contact with at least one of the electrically resistive material, the electrically conductive material, and the spacer, the heating element being so positioned as to transfer heat at least between the spacer and the electrically resistive material;
• wherein the electrically resistive material is located in direct contact with the spacer.

A method comprising:

• transferring heat in a structure to change a first direction of magnetization of an electrically conductive magnet to a second direction of magnetization;
• wherein the structure comprises said electrically conductive magnet separated from a electrically resistive magnet by a spacer;
• wherein prior to said transferring heat, the electrically conductive magnet has said first direction of magnetization;
• wherein the heat is transferred between at least the spacer and the electrically resistive magnet;
• wherein subsequent to said transferring heat, the electrically conductive magnet has said second direction of magnetization different from the first direction of magnetization;
• wherein a majority of the heat that flows between at least the spacer and the electrically resistive magnet flows without an externally-added electrical current flowing therebetween;
• and
• sensing said second direction of magnetization of the electrically conductive magnet.

An integrated circuit comprising:

• an electrically conductive material possessing spontaneous magnetization;
• an electrically resistive material possessing spontaneous magnetization;
• wherein the electrically resistive material has an electrical conductance lower than the electrical conductance of the electrically conductive material, by at least multiple orders of magnitude;
• wherein the electrical conductive material and the electrically resistive material do not contact each other;
• a spacer comprising atomically unbound electrons to transfer spin between the electrically resistive material and the electrically conductive material;
• wherein the spacer is in direct contact with the electrically resistive material;
• and
• a heating element positioned to cause heat to flow at least across an interface between the spacer and the electrically resistive material.