Hybrid Superconductor-Ferromagnetic Devices
Physical Measurement Laboratory, Quantum Electromagnetics Division
NIST only participates in the February and August reviews.
Josephson junctions can be used in circuits that perform logic operations in picoseconds and may enable high-performance, energy-efficient, cryogenic computers, provided that cryogenic-compatible memory elements can be developed that can be integrated with the superconducting logic circuits. The goal of this project is to develop nanoscale ferromagnetic devices that can be incorporated into Josephson junctions to act as nonvolatile memory elements. The device concepts are based on conventional spin-polarized transport, triplet-state transport, and recently predicted spin super-currents. Ultimately, the goal of this project is to better understand the interactions between spins and superconductors that will allow the development of nanoscale hybrid memory elements that can be switched with single-flux-quantum (SFQ) pulses. Candidates interested in the logic aspects of this program should contact Sam Benz. Candidates interested in the magnetic memory aspects of this project should contact Bill Rippard.