Electromagnetic wave detection systems and methods

#The present invention relates generally to electromagnetic wave detection systems and methods, and more particularly, to electromagnetic wave detection systems and methods that utilize inductive and/or spintronic components.

#Electromagnetic wave detectors are used to detect electromagnetic waves. Conventional detectors make direct use of the electric field portion of the electromagnetic wave for detection. Conventional detectors, however, may have difficulty detecting high power electromagnetic waves and may be bulky.

#The present invention is embodied in systems and methods for detecting electromagnetic waves.

#The invention is best understood from the following detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, with like elements having the same reference numerals. When a plurality of similar elements are present, a single reference numeral may be assigned to the plurality of similar elements with a small letter designation referring to specific elements. When referring to the elements collectively or to a non-specific one or more of the elements, the small letter designation may be dropped. This emphasizes that according to common practice, the various features of the drawings are not drawn to scale unless otherwise indicated. On the contrary, the dimensions of the various features may be expanded or reduced for clarity. Included in the drawings are the following figures:

#FIG. 1A is a block diagram depicting an exemplary spintronic device for use in describing systems and methods for detecting an electromagnetic wave in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

#FIGS. 1B and 1C are perspective diagrams depicting exemplary embodiments of the device of FIG. 1A.

#The exemplary systems and methods disclosed herein are broadly usable for detecting electromagnetic waves. The disclosed systems and methods may be particularly suitable for detecting electromagnetic waves in the radio-wave and microwave regions. The disclosed systems and methods may utilize inductive and spintronic components to achieve improved electromagnetic wave detection. A brief explanation of the spintronic and inductive components is provided herein.

#Electrons have both charge and spin properties. The field of electronics is based on the charge property of electrons. The field of spintronics is based on the spin property of electrons. Spintronics generally concerns the detection and/or manipulation of electron spin within a device, which can influence the charge properties of the device. Electron spin is a vector quantity with its direction defined as the direction of magnetization of the electron. There are generally two categories of spin, spin-up and spin-down. Consequently, electrons may be grouped into spin-up and spin-down electrons. Charges or currents having any arbitrary spin direction can be constructed from the combination of these two bases.

#In magnetic materials, one type of electron spin may be more common than the other, in which case they are defined as majority and minority spins. In such materials, an electrical current through the material can be thought of as consisting of two parallel channels corresponding to a flow of majority spin and minority spin electrons. When the number of electrons in each channel is different, the overall current carries a net spin direction, termed as spin-polarized current. Additionally, the electrical impedance in the majority spin channel and the minority spin channel may be different. Similarly, these impedances combine to create a separate overall impedance, termed a spin-dependent impedance.