Emergent electromagnetic induction beyond room temperature

Abstract

Emergent electromagnetic induction based on electrodynamics of noncollinear spin states may enable dramatic miniaturization of inductor elements widely used in electric circuits, yet the research is still in its infancy and many issues must be resolved toward its application. One such problem is how to increase working temperature to room temperature, and possible thermal agitation effects on the quantum process of the emergent induction are unknown. We report here large emergent electromagnetic induction achieved around and above room temperature, making use of a few tens of micrometer-sized devices based on the high-temperature (up to 330 K) and short-period (≤ 3 nm) spin-spiral states of a metallic helimagnet. The observed inductance value L and its sign are observed to vary to a large extent, depending not only on the spin-helix structure controlled by temperature and applied magnetic field but also on the applied current density. The present finding on room-temperature operation and possible sign control of L may provide a step toward realizing microscale quantum inductors on the basis of emergent electromagnetism in spin-helix states.