Simulations of complex phenomena for applied magnetism

我研究的主要目的是更深入地了解与在计算机硬盘中记录和存储信息相关的复杂磁性材料。这将通过计算机模拟以及理论研究来实现，使用我们小组开发的各种技术。 对我的研究活动的一个主要影响是与硬盘制造商西部数据公司以及纪念和马尼托巴的实验小组正在进行的合作。 我们新成立的组织“磁北”正在促进扩大与加拿大和国外其他团体的互动，该组织赞助了一个年度讲习班。 在拟议的研究中，我们将调查由于计算机在工作温度下自然发生的热能而导致的磁性硬盘驱动器中存储信息的自发衰变。 这种现象被称为超顺磁性，是限制硬盘保修期的主要因素之一。 开发新技术来模拟这种影响将有助于指导改善其影响所需的技术创新。 与行业研究人员密切合作将提高我们工作的相关性，以及我的学生和博士后的就业前景。 其他研究重点领域涉及各种复杂的纳米尺度的磁性系统的研究。 这包括与马尼托巴的研究人员合作研究氧化铁纳米颗粒，研究所谓的“反点”图案化的薄磁膜，这些膜是由纪念馆的新型旋涂技术形成的，以及形成“磁格”的磁性纳米线的二维阵列。我们将继续进行研究，以了解更多关于磁性薄膜的动力学和磁传感器技术中涉及的耦合多层薄膜中的复杂磁序。 我还将努力揭示新材料中新颖磁电行为的潜在机制，这些新材料对应用的磁场和电场都有响应，这些新材料正在评估技术应用。

The main purpose of my research is to gain deeper understanding of complex magnetic materials relevant for recording and storing information in computer hard drives. This will be accomplished through computer simulations, as well as theoretical investigations, using a variety of techniques developed by our group. A major influence on my research activity is on-going collaborations with hard-drive manufacturer Western Digital Corporation as well as with experimental groups at Memorial and Manitoba. An expansion of interactions with other groups in Canada and abroad is being facilitated by our newly formed organization, Magnetic North, which sponsors an annual workshop. In the proposed research, we will investigate the spontaneous decay of stored information in magnetic hard drives due to the thermal energy that occurs naturally within a computer at operating temperatures. This phenomenon, known as superparamagnetism, is one of the leading factors which limits hard-drive warranty periods. The development of new techniques to model this effect will help guide the technological innovations required to ameliorate its effects. Working closely with researchers from the industry will enhance the relevance of our efforts as well as the employment prospects for my students and postdocs. Other research focus areas involve studies of a variety of complex nanometer-dimensioned magnetic systems. This includes work done in collaboration with researchers at Manitoba on iron-oxide nanoparticles, the study of so-called 'anti-dot' patterned thin magnetic films that are formed by novel spin coating techniques at Memorial, as well as two-dimensional arrays of magnetic nano-wires which form 'magnonic lattices'. We will pursue on-going research to learn more about the dynamics in thin magnetic films and the complex magnetic order in coupled multi-layer thin films involved in magnetic transducer technology. I will also extend my efforts to reveal the underlying mechanisms responsible for novel magnetoelectric behavior in new materials that respond to both applied magnetic and electric fields that are being evaluated for technological applications.