Magnetism at the Nanoscale

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The study of magnetism in confined geometries has produced much new science and many technical applications over the past thirty years and will continue to be a rewarding area of research yielding applications in the foreseeable future. Confined systems that exhibit novel properties often consist of dissimilar materials that include at least one or more magnetic component. A fundamental understanding of nanomagnetism will lead to the development of integrated systems with complex structures and architectures that possess new functionalities. Controlled release of drugs from nanostructured functional materials, especially nanoparticles, is attracting increasing attention because of the opportunities in cancer therapy and the treatment of other ailments. The potential of magnetic nanoparticles stems from the intrinsic properties of their magnetic cores combined with their drug loading capability and the biochemical properties that can be bestowed on them by means of a suitable coating. Magnetic properties at interfaces and surfaces, which make up a large fraction of nanostructured and confined materials, can be qualitatively different from those of bulk systems. Fundamental to understanding these differences is understanding the evolution of the magnetism as the structural scale descends from the bulk to the nanoscale. Due to reduced symmetry, the magnetic anisotropy at a surface or interface can be orders of magnitude larger than in the bulk. This result can lead to magnetic frustration and reorientation of the magnetization at the surface and interface. My research program will develop and use high performance computing tools to investigate the complex atomic spin structure of magnetic nanostructures. My work will advance our understanding of magnetic interactions in nanoparticles and enable new technologies. A fundamental understanding of nanomagnetism will play an increasing role in our lives and impact many areas of Canadian society.