Research Themes

Magnetism in Nanostructures and Mesostructures

Patterning magnetic materials to the nanoscale (nanometres) or mesoscale (micrometres) creates lots of opportunities to study and exploit their properties for a range of applications, but particularly for novel information technologies and sensors.

Reducing the length scale of magnetic elements often allows control of properties such as magnetic domain structure, magnetisation reversal mechanisms, domain wall properties and spin-waves, which are important for high-speed (GHz) applications. This also allows magnetic systems to be produced with a range of engineered properties optimised for particular applications to explore certain phenomena.

We use sputtering or thermal evaporation to produce thin films and electron beam lithography or photolithography processes to create patterned elements. We then use a range of techniques to characterise their magnetic, electrical and structural properties.

We also use a range of computer modelling techniques to simulate the behaviour of magnetic structures.

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Publications