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驱动器中记录和存储信息相关的复杂磁性材料。这将通过使用我们小组开发的各种技术的计算机模拟和理论研究来实现。对我的研究活动产生重大影响的是与硬盘制造商西部数据公司以及纪念馆和马尼托巴省的实验小组的持续合作。我们新成立的组织Magic North正在推动扩大与加拿大和国外其他团体的互动，该组织赞助了一次年度研讨会。 在这项拟议的研究中，我们将调查磁性硬盘驱动器中存储的信息由于计算机在运行温度下自然产生的热能而自发衰减的情况。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。模拟这一效应的新技术的开发将有助于指导改善其效应所需的技术创新。与行业研究人员的密切合作将增强我们努力的相关性，以及我的学生和博士后的就业前景。 其他研究重点领域包括各种复杂的纳米尺寸磁性系统的研究。这包括与马尼托巴省研究人员合作开展的氧化铁纳米颗粒研究、纪念馆采用新型旋涂技术形成的所谓的“反点”图案化薄膜的研究，以及形成“磁性晶格”的磁性纳米线的二维阵列。我们将继续进行研究，以更多地了解磁性薄膜中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。我还将继续努力揭示导致新材料中新颖磁电行为的潜在机制，这些新材料对正在评估的技术应用的外加磁场和电场做出反应。

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.