A research group led by Professor Eiji Saitoh at Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University has developed a method to transmit electrical signals through insulators using electron spin. Insulators typically do not receive electrical signals. The research group has converted electrical signals into spin waves by using the new technology. After spin injection into insulators called magnetic garnet crystal, spin waves are converted back to electrical signals. The transmission of electrical signals can be applied to energy-saving technologies. The research has been conducted as part of Core Research for Evolutional Science and Technology by Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST).

 Electrical current transmitted in metals or insulators generates Joule heat to cause energy loss. To avoid the loss, we have required superconduction phenomena caused at only extremely low temperatures less than -100 degrees C. However, the newly developed conduction method does not generate Joule heat, and is applicable at room temperature. It has gathered attention for a new energy-saving method of information transmission.

 The achievement was produced by Professor Saitoh’s pioneering researches on an elemental technology to connect spin and electronics including developing relativity effects such as spin-Hall effect and inverse spin-Hall effect.

 The research has been conducted in collaboration with Professor Sadamichi Maekawa and Professor Koki Takanashi at Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University, Yosuke Kajiwara, second-year master’s degree student at Keio University and FDK CORPORATION.

 The research results have been published in Nature, British science journal, on March 11, 2010. The paper’s title is “Transmission of electrical signals by spin-wave interconversion in a magnetic insulator.”

[Contact]
(About Research)
Professor Eiji Saitoh
Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
Address: 2-1-1 Katahira Aoba-ku Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
Tel: +81-22-215-2021, Fax: +81-22-215-2020
E-mail：eizi@imr.tohoku.ac.jp

(About JST Project)
Ryoji Haraguchi
Department of Research Promotion, Innovation Headquarters, Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST)
Address: Sanban-cho building, 5 Sanban-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-0075, Japan
Tel: +81-3-3512-3525, Fax: +81-3-3222-2067
E-mail：presto@jst.go.jp

(Public Relations)
Miyuki Sasaki, Administrative Staff
Institute for Materials Research, Tohoku University
Address: 2-1-1 Katahira Aoba-ku Sendai, 980-8577, Japan
Tel: +81-22-215-2181, Fax: +81-22－215－2184
E-mail：miyuki.s@imr.tohoku.ac.jp、imr-som@imr.tohoku.ac.jp

Office of Communications and Public Relations, Keio University
2-15-45 Mita, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 108-8345 Japan
TEL: ＋81-3-5427-1541 FAX: ＋81-3-5441-7640

Department of Public Relations and Science Portal, JST
Address: 5-3 Yonban-cho Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 102-8666, Japan
Tel: +81-3-5214-8404, Fax: +81-3-5214-8432
E-mail：jstkoho@jst.go.jp