[Saha, J.; Bolon, B.; Abin-Fuentes, A.; Parker, J.S.; Leighton, C.; Victora, R. Comparison Between Micromagnetic Simulation and Experiment for the Co/-Fe50Mn50 Exchange-biased System. J. Appl. Phys. 2007, 102, 073901; Chan, M.; Parker, J.S.; Crowell P.A.; Leighton, C. Identification and Separation of Two Distinct Contributions to the Training Effect in Polycrystalline Exchange Biased Co/FeMn Bilayers.]

Spatial map of the distribution of magnetization directions in a 6.4 x 6.4 µm NiMn / NiFe sample according to a micromagnetic simulation.

Understanding Magnetic “Exchange Pinning” (IRG-3) Supported by UMN MRSEC DMR 0212302

• Magnetic storage of digital data is now possible at densities approaching 1 Terabit per square inch at a cost of only about a tenth of a cent per Megabit.

• Magnetic field sensors used in hard disks rely on the coupling between two types of magneticmaterials: a ferromagnet and an antiferromagnet.

• IRG-3 students Jyo Saha, Mike Lund, and Mun Chan, and postdoc Jeff Parker havecompleted a comprehensive comparison ofthe experimental properties of these systemswith micromagnetic simulations.

• A unique feature of this work was its realistictreatment of nanoscale defects, allowing for anassessment of their impact on technologicallyimportant phenomena such as reversal asymmetry and training.

Timothy P. Lodge, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, DMR 0212302