Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

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.