FRG: Ballistic Magnetoresistance in Ferromagnetic Nanocontacts

赠款的一个主要目标是研究基于磁性过渡金属(Ni和Co)以及半金属磁铁矿系统的具有重要技术意义的磁性纳米结构中的磁性纳米接触中的弹道磁阻(BMR)。纳米触头将使用电沉积技术和使用电化学方法制造的纳米尺寸的尖锐尖端来制造。一个主要的目标是系统地研究触头直径、局域结构和纳米触头的组成对BMR的影响。这项研究的结果将构成对自旋极化电子在纳米尺寸磁致收缩中传输的基本理解。触头直径的选择范围从扩散电子传输到弹道电子传输。BMR纳米触头的开发将使当前的数据存储容量从目前的每平方英寸千兆位范围增加到每平方英寸太比特范围。纽约州立大学布法罗分校和亚利桑那州立大学的合作研究包括参加NIST使用带有极化分析的扫描电子显微镜(SEMPA)对磁性结构进行成像。固体衬底上微制造纳米触头的研究发现，作为独立单元的一系列有用应用，例如在超高灵敏度磁传感器以及新型生物传感器中，给定的分子可以给出它自己独特的电子签名。除了对研究生和本科生进行实验室培训外，外展活动还包括为布法罗地区市中心高中的少数族裔和女学生提供为期五周的暑期学徒计划。

A major objective of the grant is to investigate ballistic magnetoresistance (BMR) in magnetic nanocontacts in technologically important magnetic nanostructures based on the magnetic transition metals (Ni and Co) as well as the half-metallic magnetite system. The nanocontacts will be made using electrodeposition techniques along with nanometer size sharp tips fabricated using electrochemical methods. A principal objective is to make a systematic study of the effects of contact diameter, local domain structure and the composition of the nanocontacts on BMR. The results from the study will constitute fundamental understanding of spin-polarized electron transport across nanometer-sized magnetic constrictions. The contact diameters will be selected spanning from diffusive to ballistic electron transport regimes. The development of BMR nanocontacts would greatly enable the current data storage capacity to be increased from the current Gbits per square inch range to the terabits per square inch range. The collaborative research between SUNY Buffalo and Arizona State University involves participation at NIST for imaging magnetic structures using Scanning Electron Microscopy with Polarization Analysis (SEMPA).The research on microfabricated nanocontacts supported on a solid substrate find a range of useful applications as stand-alone units such as in ultra-high sensitivity magnetic sensors as well as novel biological sensors where a given molecule can be made to give its own unique electronic signature. Along with the laboratory training of researchers at graduate and undergraduate levels, outreach activities include a five-week summer apprentice program for minorities and women students from Buffalo-area inner city high schools.