Provided herein is an FeGa-base magnetostriction element that has specific characteristics with regards to magnetostriction along the longitudinal direction, and that shows a sufficiently high magnetostriction level along the longitudinal direction. The magnetostriction element is formed of a magnetostrictive material that is a monocrystalline alloy represented by Fe.sub.(100-)Ga.sub. ( represents the Ga content (at %), and satisfies 1419) or Fe.sub.(100--)Ga.sub.X.sub. ( and represent the Ga content (at %) and the X content (at %), respectively, X is at least one element selected from the group consisting of Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Cu, and C, and the formula satisfies 1419, and 0.51). The magnetostriction element has a longitudinal direction with a first dimension, and a transverse direction with a second dimension smaller than the first dimension, the transverse direction being orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and the longitudinal direction being parallel to the <100> crystal orientation of the monocrystalline alloy. The magnetostriction element, under a magnetic field applied parallel to an x-y plane of an x-axis representing the transverse direction and a y-axis representing the longitudinal direction and within an angle of 090 with respect to the x-axis, has an Lmax and an Lmin that satisfy 0LminLmax/10, and 100 ppmLmax1,000 ppm along the y-axis direction.

Nano-actuators having a helical member formed with a ferromagnetic shape memory alloy (FSMA) are disclosed that are elastically deformable between a compressed state and an expanded state by the application of a magnetic field. The nano-actuators may include a ferromagnetic head portion, that may be formed from the FSMA or from another material. A thin biocompatible external layer provides a platform for attaching a ligand that is selected to bind with a target cell type, for example, a target cancer cell. The nano-actuators are magnetically propelled to the target cells, and oscillated and/or rotated to mechanically damage the target cells to induce apoptosis. The nano-actuators may be formed by electro deposition of the FSMA into a nano-helical template.

An improved magnetic tunnel junction with two oxide interfaces on each side of a ferromagnetic layer (FML) leads to higher PMA in the FML. The novel stack structure allows improved control during oxidation of the top oxide layer. This is achieved by the use of a FML with a multiplicity of ferromagnetic sub-layers deposited in alternating sequence with one or more non-magnetic layers. The use of non-magnetic layers each with a thickness of 0.5 to 10 Angstroms and with a high resputtering rate provides a smoother FML top surface, inhibits crystallization of the FML sub-layers, and reacts with oxygen to prevent detrimental oxidation of the adjoining ferromagnetic sub-layers. The FML can function as a free or reference layer in an MTJ. In an alternative embodiment, the non-magnetic material such as Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sr, Ba, and B is embedded by co-deposition or doped in the FML layer.

A cap made of metal includes a first surface, a second surface, and a third surface. The first surface includes an outer ceiling surface, an outer sidewall surface, and a flange outer peripheral end surface. The second surface includes an inner ceiling surface parallel to the outer ceiling surface and an inner sidewall surface parallel to the outer sidewall surface. The second surface is a side facing the base plate. The third surface connects the flange outer peripheral end surface to the inner sidewall surface. The third surface is bonded to the base plate with the eutectic alloy. The third surface includes a first curved surface having a first curvature from one end of the third surface to the flange outer peripheral end surface and a second curved surface having a second curvature from another end of the third surface to the inner sidewall surface.

The magnetostrictive member is formed of a single crystal of an iron-based alloy having magnetostrictive characteristics, is a plate-like body having a long-side direction and a short-side direction, and has a lattice constant of a <100> orientation in the long-side direction not larger than a lattice constant average calculated from lattice constants of <100> orientations in three directions, or the long-side direction, the short-side direction, and a direction orthogonal to the long-side direction and the short-side direction.

The magnetostrictive member is formed of a single crystal of an iron-based alloy having magnetostrictive characteristics, is a plate-like body having a long-side direction and a short-side direction, and has a lattice constant of a <100> orientation in the long-side direction not larger than a lattice constant average calculated from lattice constants of <100> orientations in three directions, or the long-side direction, the short-side direction, and a direction orthogonal to the long-side direction and the short-side direction.

A piezoelectric element includes a laminate including first and second piezoelectric layers with respective polarization directions in a thickness direction and an elastic layer provided between the first piezoelectric layer and the second piezoelectric layer, first and second terminal electrodes that are provided on an external surface of the laminate, a first detection electrode provided on a positive polar surface of the first piezoelectric layer, a second detection electrode provided on a negative polar surface of the first piezoelectric layer, a third detection electrode provided on a positive polar surface of the second piezoelectric layer, and a fourth detection electrode provided on a negative polar surface of the second piezoelectric layer. The first detection electrode and the fourth detection electrode are connected to the first terminal electrode. The second detection electrode and the third detection electrode are connected to the second terminal electrode.

An improved magnetic tunnel junction with two oxide interfaces on each side of a ferromagnetic layer (FML) leads to higher PMA in the FML. The novel stack structure allows improved control during oxidation of the top oxide layer. This is achieved by the use of a FML with a multiplicity of ferromagnetic sub-layers deposited in alternating sequence with one or more non-magnetic layers. The use of non-magnetic layers each with a thickness of 0.5 to 10 Angstroms and with a high resputtering rate provides a smoother FML top surface, inhibits crystallization of the FML sub-layers, and reacts with oxygen to prevent detrimental oxidation of the adjoining ferromagnetic sub-layers. The FML can function as a free or reference layer in an MTJ. In an alternative embodiment, the non-magnetic material such as Mg, Al, Si, Ca, Sr, Ba, and B is embedded by co-deposition or doped in the FML layer.

The magnetostrictive member is formed of a single crystal of an iron-based alloy having magnetostrictive characteristics, is a plate-like body having a long-side direction and a short-side direction, and has a lattice constant of a <100> orientation in the short-side direction larger than a lattice constant of a <100> orientation in the long-side direction.

The magnetostrictive member is formed of a single crystal of an iron-based alloy having magnetostrictive characteristics, is a plate-like body having a long-side direction and a short-side direction, and has a lattice constant of a <100> orientation in the short-side direction larger than a lattice constant of a <100> orientation in the long-side direction.