Research

The most important and urgent problem of our society is energy efficiency. In this research group, new materials and phenomena applicable to energy transformation will be studied theoretically and experimentally in collaboration with J- PARC. In particular, the new technology using spin of electrons (spintronics) will be a key to achieve our project. A spin current, which is a flow of magnetism, is now going to be used in a non-volatile magnetic memory and energy conversion technology. Those will dramatically reduce energy consumption because of the particular property of spin, whose rotational motion is limited in one direction. Hence, we can expect some interesting functionalities such as rectification of heat flow. Using this advantage of spins, we will pursue new principle to control mechanical, electromagnetic, and thermal energy flows. Furthermore, we will make a new paradigm of condensed matter theory extending the quantum mechanics to involve mechanical motions such as rotation, vibration, and so on. These studies will realize new concepts on spin transformation, new spintronics devices with mechanical motion, new functionality never reached by the conventional electronics. Our spin-transformation science will make a new method of thermoelectric power generation, which will increase the energy efficiency, and will contribute to the security of nuclear power plant. In addition, those devices based on the spin materials will be the basis of technology under radiation environment.

High energy efficiency by spin transformation science