Magnetic Tunable Nanostructures: Property Characterization and Modeling

本研究的目的是系统地确定纳米级铁磁材料的磁性能，并将其与粗粒对应物进行比较，以用作电子可调磁性纳米结构。 该研究涉及合成，加工和表征其磁性能作为材料变量和施加电场的函数。 这些结果，辅以建模将提供一个基本的理解电场，化学和微观结构的磁性可调纳米结构的性能的影响。 该合成涉及八源分子束外延和八靶DC/RF溅射沉积系统，具有原位表征能力。 它们的磁性（MS、MR、HC、Hb和TC、一阶剩磁曲线等）将使用SQUID和SQUID VSM磁强计，洛伦兹显微镜，FMR和克尔效应光谱进行表征。 微观结构特征将通过LEED，TEM，STEM，XRD，Lorentz和Mössbauer光谱进行检查。 这些结果将促进对这些纳米结构的理解，并促进其技术应用。这是一项德美合作的努力，涉及纳米技术研究所，卡尔斯鲁厄，德国与乔治华盛顿大学，华盛顿，DC和国家标准与技术研究所，盖瑟斯堡，MD。如果成功，这项研究的结果预计不仅可以促进可调纳米结构的理解，而且影响对更广泛类别的磁性纳米结构的磁性行为的理解，所述磁性纳米结构包括隧道结、量子点和图案化介质。 预计未来的努力将导致各种磁性纳米结构的特性的定制和优化，以用于广泛的技术应用，包括磁性数据存储和传感器设备。 研究生和本科生以及博士后研究员将通过获得先进的实验磁性测量的理解和利用机会在美国和德国之间进行互访而受益。 该项目由土木、机械和制造创新部以及国际科学与工程办公室共同资助。

The objective of this research is to systematically determine the magnetic properties of nanoscaled ferromagnetic materials and to compare them to their coarse-grained counterparts for use as electronically tunable magnetic nanostructures. The research involves synthesis, processing, and characterization of their magnetic properties as a function of material variables and applied electric field. These results, complemented by modeling will provide a fundamental understanding of the effects of electric field, chemistry, and microstructure on the properties of magnetic tunable nanostructures. The synthesis involves an eight source molecular beam epitaxy and an eight-target DC/RF sputtering deposition systems, with in-situ characterization capabilities. Their magnetic properties (MS, MR, HC, Hb, and TC, First Order Reversal Curves, etc.) will be characterized using SQUID and SQUID VSM magnetometers, Lorentz microscopy, FMR, and Kerr Effect spectroscopy. The microstructural features will be examined by LEED, TEM, STEM, XRD, Lorentz and Mössbauer spectroscopies. The results will advance the understanding of these nanostructures and promote their technological applications. This is a German-American collaborative effort, involving the Institute of Nanotechnology, Karlsruhe, Germany with George Washington University, Washington, DC and the National Institute of Standards and Technology, Gaithersburg, MD.If successful, the results of this research are expected not only to promote the understanding of tunable nanostructures, but also impact the understanding of the magnetic behavior of the broader class of magnetic nanostructures that include tunnel junctions, quantum dots, and patterned media. Future efforts are expected to lead to tailoring and optimization of the properties of various magnetic nanostructures for their use in a wide range of technological applications, including magnetic data storage and sensor devices. Graduate and undergraduate students and post-doctoral fellows will benefit through acquiring comprehension in advanced experimental magnetic measurements and taking opportunities to exchange visits between the U.S. and Germany. This project is funded jointly by the Division of Civil, Mechanical, and Manufacturing Innovation and the Office of International Science and Engineering.