Racetrack memory approach could have higher read speeds than anticipated
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Annoyed by how long it takes his computer to boot up, Professor Mathias Kläui, pictured, from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne is working on a new kind of 'racetrack' memory.
Racetrack memory – named because the data 'races' around a 'track' and originally proposed by IBM's Almaden research centre – uses a spin coherent electric current to move magnetic domains along a nanoscale wire.
In Prof Kläui's approach, bits of information are pushed around inside a nickel-iron nanowire using a spin polarised current. It is said to be the equivalent of reading an entire VHS cassette in less than 1s.
However, in order for the idea to be feasible, each bit of information must be clearly separated from the next so the data can be read reliably. Prof Kläui has used vortices to create magnetic walls between the bits. Using this solution on a 30nm thick nickel-iron disk, Prof Kläui and his colleagues recorded higher reading speeds than expected
Scientists at the IBM's Zurich Research Center, who are also developing a racetrack memory, have confirmed the importance of the results and are planning to collaborate with Prof Kläui to build a prototype.
Prof Kläui envisions a system in which millions – or even billions – of nanowires would be embedded in an epoxy resin, providing enormous capacity in a shockproof platform. He believes a device could be on the market in as little as five years.
