Phase-change magnetic memory effect in cation-deficient iron sulfide Fe1-xS

Phase-change memory devices, such as DVD media, have been growing rapidly due to their high capacity recording. The mechanism of the recording is based on the phase-change between the crystalline phase and the amorphous phase, and the two phases are recognized by the difference in their reflectivities. In analogy with such conventional phase-change memory materials, here a phase-change magnetic memory material, which utilizes the order-disorder transition of cation vacancies in iron sulfide is proposed.