Unlike its namesake predecessor, which operates on an electric current, spin transistors operate on electrons on a more fundamental level; it is essentially the application of electrons set in particular states of spin to store information.
One advantage over regular transistors is that these spin states can be detected and altered without necessarily requiring the application of an electric current.
This allows for detection hardware (such as hard drive heads) that are much smaller but even more sensitive than today's devices, which rely on noisy amplifiers to detect the minute charges used on today's data storage devices.
The potential result is devices that can store more data in less space and consume less power, using less costly materials.
have allowed the production of spin transistors, using readily available substances, that can operate at room temperature: a precursor to commercial viability.