Young-man Chang, a Ph.D. student from the Department of Material Science at the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) successfully invented a ‘new magnetic sensor using superparamagnetism and MgO magnetic tunnel junction’.

A crossed magnetization pattern using the magnetization of a sensing layer oriented perpendicular to that of reference layer has been used in a number of applications. However, in this new development, he invented a magnetic sensor using not a crossed magnetization pattern, but a superparamagnetic sensing layer. (Superparamagnetism refers to the phenomenon of fluctuation of magnetization due to thermal agitation at small sizes, such as nanometer.)

Generally, bio-chip and position sensors of automobiles using crossed magnetization pattern are complicated in terms of design and high-electricity consumption. Thus, developments of alternatives have been long awaited in this field.

He invented the new magnetic sensor using nanoparticles of Co or Fe on MgO and CoFeB/MgO/CoFeB magnetic tunnel junctions.

This development is able to obtain high magnetic sensitivity, and may be applied to automobile bio-chip and velocity sensors.

His thesis was published in the renowned Applied Physics Letters Vol. 89 and listed in the Virtual Journal of Nanoscale Science and Technology (VJNST) as an excellent thesis.

<Reported At>
Chosun Ilbo (Daily News), Joongang Ilbo (Daily News), Donga Ilbo (Daily News), Money Today, Hankuk Ilbo (Daily News), EBN, Segye Ilbo (Daily News), Fox Net, Maeil Economy, ETNews, Newsis, YTN, Hankook Economy, MOST News, Junnam Ilbo (Daily News), Mudeung Ilbo (Daily News), Korea Times (Daily News)

The *Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology (GIST) is a research-oriented graduate school established by the Ministry of Science and Technology in the Republic of Korea in 1993.
*The university’s identity was changed from K-JIST to GIST in 2004

- Nov 14, 2006-