2. Magnetoresistors and spin-polarized transport

2.1 Two-current model

• Electron spin

  Electrons carry a magnetic moment called spin. Although its origin is quantum, it can be interpreted as the magnetic moment associated with the electron's angular momentum.

  The existence of electron spin has been known for about a century. Yet it has been completely ignored in conventional electronics, based on the electron's charge alone. It is its use in the design of new electronic components that constitutes spin electronics.