eNewsletter

January 2011

Researchers Take Computer Memory for a Spin
Using unique equipment developed by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, an international team of researchers has used the spin of atomic nuclei in silicon to store information for longer than a minute and a half. More remarkable still, the team showed that the information can be read out electronically — a key step toward the development of faster conventional computer and superfast “quantum” computers.

As demand for smaller and faster electronics increases, many scientists are focusing their efforts in the emerging field of “spintronics,” where the magnetic character, or spin, of electrons and nuclei are used to store information. While other researchers have shown that spin information can be processed in silicon, the material on which modern electronics and computing is based, until now, no effective way to both store and read out the information has been found.

“Finding a system compatible with silicon, the main material used in the semiconductor industry, is particularly useful as it has the potential to be incorporated into existing technology,” said McCamey, lead author on the paper. “We could then integrate spin based information storage and processing devices onto a single chip.”

This is a new way of storing energy, said Boehme, a senior author on the paper. “The length of spin memory we observed is more than adequate to create memories for computers.”

Adequate, yes. But feasible? Not anytime soon, the authors caution. The nuclear spin storage-and-read-out apparatus works only at a few degrees Kelvin, or just slightly above absolute zero — the temperature at which even atoms almost stop moving. And it must be surrounded by high magnetic fields roughly 200,000 times stronger than Earth’s.

“Yes, you could immediately build a memory chip this way, but do you want a computer that has to be operated at 458 degrees below zero Fahrenheit and in a big national magnetic laboratory environment?” said Boehme. “First we want to learn how to do it at higher temperatures, which are more practical for a device, and without these strong magnetic fields to align the spins.”

The researchers used unique equipment for controlling electronic and nuclear spins in high magnetic fields and at very low temperatures to achieve their findings. The equipment was developed and built by van Tol and colleagues in the Mag Lab’s Electron Magnetic Resonance user program.

“The high magnetic fields we use enable the electron spins to be lined up, initializing them so they are ready to store information” said van Tol. “We now show that we can line up the nuclear spins too.”

“Electrical detection of electron spins is also the leading approach for detecting quantum information in silicon” said Morley. “Future experiments could use this method to study quantum information stored in nuclear spins.”

The study was funded by the National High Magnetic Field Laboratory, the National Science Foundation, the Australian Research Council, Britain’s Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council and the Royal Commission for the Exhibition of 1851, a British funding agency led by Prince Philip.

Vishay Extends IHLP Family of Low-Profile, High-Current Inductors with Thinner 1.2 mm and 1.5 mm Devices in the 1212 Case Size
Vishay Intertechnology, Inc. has launched two new IHLP low-profile, high-current inductors in the 1212 case size. The compact IHLP-1212AB-11 and IHLP-1212AE-11 offer a 3.0 mm by 3.6 mm footprint with ultra-low profiles of 1.2 mm and 1.5 mm respectively.

With a high maximum 1 MHz frequency and standard inductance values from 0.22 µH through 1.0 µH, IHLP-1212AB-11 and IHLP-1212AE-11 serve as high-performing, space- and power-saving solutions for voltage regulator module (VRM) and DC/DC converter applications in end products including next-generation mobile devices, notebooks, desktop computers, graphics cards, portable gaming devices, personal navigation systems, personal multimedia devices, and automotive systems; low-profile, high-current power supplies and point of load (POL) converters; distributed power systems; and field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs).

The IHLP-1212AB-11 offers an inductance range from 0.22 µH to 0.56 µH, a saturation current range from 6.7 A to 9.3 A, typical DCR from 9.5 mΩ to 18.7 mΩ, and maximum DCR from 11.4 mΩ to 22.0 mΩ. The IHLP-1212AE-11 offers an inductance range from 0.22 µH to 1.0 µH, a saturation current range from 5.3 A to 9.0 A, typical DCR from 9.5 mΩ to 29.5 mΩ, and maximum DCR from 11.4 mΩ to 33.0 mΩ. 

The new inductors handle high transient current spikes without hard saturation. Packaged in an RoHS-compliant, 100 percent lead (Pb)-free shielded, composite construction that reduces buzz noise to low levels, the new devices are specified for an operating temperature range of -55°C to 125°C, with high resistance to thermal shock, moisture, mechanical shock, and vibration.

Samples and production quantities of the new inductors will be available in Q1 2011, with lead times of six weeks for large orders. Pricing for US delivery only in 10,000-piece quantities is $0.35 per piece.

Self-cleaning Automag Cuts Filtration Costs, Reduces Environmental Impact
Magnetic Products, Inc. (MPI), a provider of both magnetic and non-magnetic material handling solutions, is proud to introduce the Automag. The Automag is the latest generation of self-cleaning high-intensity magnetic filters for high-flow, high-contamination industrial applications. 

The Automag, manufactured by Eclipse Magnetics, is a self-cleaning high-intensity magnetic filter that improves filtration efficiency over conventional systems. It uses high-power neodymium Rare Earth magnets to remove ferrous and para-magnetic contamination from fluids and is particularly effective with machine tool oils, coolants and hydraulic fluid machinery systems.

Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. Introduces a New User-Programmable Linear Hall-Effect Sensor IC
Allegro MicroSystems, Inc. has introduced a new user-programmable linear Hall-effect sensor IC with pulse width modulated output. The A1356 complements Allegro’s existing line of linear devices with PWM outputs by offering a device with significantly higher carrier frequency of 2 kHz. This new device targets gear detection, fork, clutch and neutral positions within the automotive market in addition to key applications within the industrial market.

The A1356 device is a high precision, user programmable, Hall-effect linear sensor with a pulse width modulated (PWM), open collector output. The duty cycle (DC) of the PWM output signal (freq: 2 kHz) is proportional to an applied magnetic field. The A1356 device converts an analog signal from its internal Hall sensor element to a digitally encoded PWM output signal. The coupled noise immunity of the digitally encoded PWM output is far superior to the noise immunity of an analog output signal, particularly when the signal needs to travel over long wires within the system.

The BiCMOS, monolithic circuit inside of the A1356 integrates a Hall element, precision temperature-compensating circuitry to reduce the intrinsic sensitivity and offset drift of the Hall element, a small-signal high-gain amplifier, proprietary dynamic offset cancellation circuits, and PWM conversion circuitry. The dynamic offset cancellation circuits reduce the residual offset voltage of the Hall element, which is normally caused by device over molding, temperature dependencies, and thermal stress. The high-frequency offset cancellation (chopping) clock allows for a greater sampling rate, which increases the accuracy of the output signal and results in faster signal processing capability.

The design and manufacturing flexibility of the A1356 is realized through user programmable: gain, quiescent duty cycle and carrier frequency. The device can be set up in a magnetic circuit and programmed with a train of serial pulses. Once the appropriate parameters have been selected, the codes can be locked for one-time programming. In this manner, manufacturing tolerances can be reduced and the assembly process can be simplified.

The A1356 sensor is provided in a lead (Pb) free, 3-pin, single inline package (KB suffix), with 100 percent matte tin leadframe plating.  It is priced at $1.45 in quantities of 1,000.

America's Rare Earth Mine Blasts Back to Life
As this photo shows, active mining at the Mountain Pass Rare Earth Facility has resumed for the first time since 2002, bringing back into active production one of the world's largest and richest deposits of rare earth minerals outside of China.

“While Molycorp has been producing significant quantities of rare earth materials for the past three years, we are very pleased and proud to resume active mining of fresh rare earth ore at Mountain Pass,” said Mark A. Smith, Molycorp's CEO.  “Resumption of active mining operations at Mountain Pass is actually occurring ahead of schedule, which underscores the fact that we are on track to meet our end-of-2012 deadline for achieving a full-scale production rate of 20,000 metric tons per year of rare earth oxide equivalent.”

Molycorp is integrating a wide range of breakthrough technologies at its new facility that will dramatically shrink the environmental footprint of rare earth mining and processing. 

A short backgrounder on these new technologies can be seen here.

Bunting Magnetics Augments Manufacturing Team
Bunting Magnetics Co, headquartered in Newton, Kansas, is pleased to announce the addition of Marvin Angleton as manager, Technical Services and Quality, and Tom Andrews as Metal Detection Service technician.

“Marvin brings a diverse background that combines the practical knowledge of managing the daily flow of a shop floor with the strategic ability to anticipate how we can grow and improve our operational capabilities,” said Barry Voorhees, general manager for Bunting’s main production facility. “Also, Marvin has worked for Bunting in the past and is familiar with the mindset in which we manufacture our products. Quality is the first concern and continuing that tradition will be his primary focus.”

Mr. Angleton has more than 27 years of manufacturing experience in the aerospace and magnetic material industries. His range of skills spans from working as a Machinist to being the Engineering Manager for a large aerospace firm. Marvin’s training includes Six-Sigma Green Belt certification in quality initiatives, policy development for OHSA regulations and various process improvements involving information technology systems. Mr. Angleton holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance and Marketing from Wichita State University and a Masters of Business Administration from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas. In his role, Marvin will direct the Technical Services Department which includes the Design Engineering, Inside Sales, Estimating and Research & Development teams within Bunting.

As a Metal Detection Service technician, Mr. Andrews will help manage all new unit startup and commissioning for the Bunting metal detection product line. This will include troubleshooting and repair in all field service situations including customer audits. Tom will assist in implementing new service contracts as required and provide professional field service and phone support for Bunting customers.

Tom, a native of Wichita, Kansas, has more than 25 years of field service experience in the aerospace and printing products industries. A veteran of the United States Navy, Mr. Andrews has extensive training in Basic Electronics and Digital Electronics and has served as an Instructor at the Wichita Technical Institute in the past.

Matamec Becomes Rare Earth Trade Group’s Fifth Rare Earth Resource Company Member
The Rare Earth Industry and Technology Association (REITA) has announced that Matamec Explorations, Inc. of Montreal has become the fifth Rare Earth resource company to become a member of the association.

Matamec joins existing Rare Earth resource members Molycorp, Inc., Great Western Minerals Group, Rare Element Resources Ltd. and Arafura Resources Ltd. in REITA just as national policymakers in Japan, Korea, EU, Canada and the US are poised to take action on Rare Earth supply chain issues.

“The creation of globally competitive and diverse supply chains for Rare Earth technologies for Clean Energy applications will require the commercialization of numerous economically viable Rare Earth reserves outside of China during the next three to 10 years,” said Keith Delaney, REITA’s Executive director.  “REITA now represents a significant portion of the Rare Earth properties outside of China that are poised for successful commercialization.”

Molycorp and Hitachi Metals Announce Agreement to Pursue Formation of Joint Ventures to Manufacture Rare Earth Alloys and Magnets in the US
Molycorp, Inc. and Japan-based Hitachi Metals, Ltd. have entered into an agreement regarding the planned formation of joint ventures for the production of rare earth alloys and magnets in the US.  The ventures would be focused on the manufacture of neodymium-iron-boron (NdFeB) alloys and magnets that are vital to many clean energy, automotive, computer, health care, communications and other technologies.
 
The parties are expected to sign definitive agreements, which are subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, for the alloy joint venture by early April 2011.  Signing of definitive agreements, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of the feasibility study and other conditions, for the joint venture to produce rare earth magnets would follow later in 2011. 
 
“We look forward to launching these joint ventures for production in the US together with Molycorp, which has long experience and deep expertise in the rare earth industry,” said Nobuhiko Shima, president of NEOMAX Company of Hitachi Metals, Ltd.  “As the world’s top manufacturer of NdFeB magnets, we are well positioned to satisfy the growing demand from global customers for these rare earth magnets, and to contribute to an energy efficient society.” 
 
“We are very pleased to have reached agreement in principle with Hitachi Metals, the world's leading manufacturer of rare earth magnets, to launch these joint ventures,” said Mark Smith, Molycorp’s CEO.  “These joint ventures are an integral part of Molycorp’s ‘mine-to-magnets’ business plan, and they move our company and the US one step closer to realizing the strategic goal of re-establishing a complete rare earth manufacturing supply chain in the US.”

Bruker Announces Large Ultra-high Field NMR Order from the University of Minnesota
Bruker has received an order valued at over $7.5 million from the University of Minnesota for its new Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) laboratory, including ultra-high field Avance III 900 and Avance III 850 NMR spectrometers. The systems will be installed in the newly constructed and greatly expanded NMR Facility at the University of Minnesota.

This purchase will form the core of the systems in the NMR Facility for use in a wide range of research at the University of Minnesota, including structure determination of proteins and nucleic acids related to cancer, heart failure, infectious disease, muscular dystrophy, aging, neurodegeneration, and metabolomics.

The Avance III 900 system is based on Bruker’s successful 900 MHz (21.2 Tesla) actively-shielded US2 magnet, one of the highest magnetic fields for NMR applications. The 900 MHz US2 magnet combines Bruker’s proprietary UltraShield active-shielding and UltraStabilized sub-cooling technologies. The result is a reliable 900 MHz magnet for NMR applications. The Avance III 850 spectrometer is based on Bruker’s new 850 MHz Ascend magnet that combines the key advantages of Bruker’s well-established UltraShield Plus magnets with advanced superconductor technology resulting in reductions in magnetic stray fields and in the size of the cryostat.

“This purchase demonstrates the University of Minnesota’s commitment to excellence in research,” said Prof. David Thomas, NMR Facility director. “Specifically, these new Bruker instruments will enhance this University’s position as a world leader in the advancement of biomedical research using magnetic resonance.”

Rare Earth Mining and Processing Developments Galloping Forward…
But Will it be Enough and in Time?
By Ian London, Market Development & Energy Advisor • Avalon Rare Metals, Inc.

A week or so ago, a colleague from a previous life (and nothing to do with rare earths) asked if I was keeping busy or if I was suffering from a case of ‘the same old, same old’. “Are you kidding? The rare earth space has never been more challenging, intellectually stimulating, market active, opportunity and risk laden, and did I say -- fun!”

Read this article here.

Register by January 20th for a Discounted Rate!

MAGNETICS 2011, taking place March 1-2, 2011 in San Antonio, TX, will feature an interactive exhibit hall, the chance to attend pre-conference workshops, unmatched networking/business opportunities and more than 20 technical presentations.

Join leading global, market and technical leaders at the forefront of today’s magnetic technologies as they discuss how recent developments in magnetic materials and related technologies are impacting product and system performance for a variety of industries and applications.

Attend these sessions at Magnetics 2011 to benefit from the latest advancements and anticipate what's coming next!

• The Global Permanent Magnet Industry: 2010-2020
• ‘Rest of the World Rare Earth Supply Chains’ Galloping Forward
• Developing a New Transformer
• Soft Magnetic Cobalt-Iron Alloys for High Performance Motors and Actuators
• The USMMA’s “Manufacturing First” Proposal for Sintered NdFeB Magnets
• Understanding China’s Magnet Material Supply Channels: Past, Present and Future
• Rare Earth Resurgence: Re-Establishing a US Mine-to-Magnets Manufacturing Supply Chain
• Clean Energy Demand for Rare Earth Permanent Magnets
• Semi-Hard Magnets: The Important Role of Materials with Intermediate Coercivity

Increase Your Technical Skill Set – Attend a Pre-Conference Workshop!

• EMI 401 - Designing Different Filter Topologies
• Basic/Advanced Bootcamps
• Magnetic Materials in Finite Element Simulations & Their Application in Electrical Machines

Register Now!

Download the Brochure to see the Finalized Program

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Download the Winter 2010 Resource Guide Issue of Magnetics Business & Technology Magazine

Features & Columns:

• Rare Earth Mining and Processing Developments Galloping Forward… But Will it be Enough and in Time?
• Efficient Machine Design in Finite Element-Based Software Simulators
• An Easier Method of Calculating Initial EMI Filter Value
• Spontaneous Thoughts: The View from Slovenia
• 2010 Resource Guide

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