Magnetic skyrmions are particle-like objects described by localized solutions of non-linear partial differential equations. Up until a few decades ago, it was believed that magnetic skyrmions only existed in condensed matter as short-term excitations that would quickly collapse into linear singularities. The contrary was proven theoretically in 1989 and evidentially in 2009. It is now known that skyrmions can exist as long-living metastable configurations in low-symmetry condensed matter systems with broken mirror symmetry, increasing the potential applications possible. Magnetic Skyrmions and their Applications delves into the fundamental principles and most recent research and developments surrounding these unique magnetic particles. Despite achievements in the synthesis of systems stabilizing chiral magnetic skyrmions and the variety of experimental investigations and numerical calculations, there have not been many summaries of the fundamental physical principles governing magnetic skyrmions or integrating those concepts with methods of detection, characterization and potential applications. Magnetic Skyrmions and their Applications delivers a coherent, state-of-the-art discussion on the current knowledge and potential applications of magnetic skyrmions in magnetic materials and device applications. First the book reviews key concepts such as topology, magnetism and materials for magnetic skyrmions. Then, charactization methods, physical mechanisms, and emerging applications are discussed. - Covers background knowledge and details the basic principles of magnetic skyrmions, including materials, characterization, statics and dynamics - Reviews materials for skyrmion stabilization including bulk materials and interface-dominated multilayer materials - Describes both well-known and unconventional applications of magnetic skyrmions, such as memristors and reservoir computing

Using the nano metric resolution of atomic force microscopy techniques, this work explores the rich fundamental physics and novel functionalities of domain walls in ferroelectric materials, the nano scale interfaces separating regions of differently oriented spontaneous polarization. Due to the local symmetry-breaking caused by the change in polarization, domain walls are found to possess an unexpected lateral piezoelectric response, even when this is symmetry-forbidden in the parent material. This has interesting potential applications in electromechanical devices based on ferroelectric domain patterning. Moreover, electrical conduction is shown to arise at domain walls in otherwise insulating lead zirconate titanate, the first such observation outside of multiferroic bismuth ferrite, due to the tendency of the walls to localize defects. The role of defects is then explored in the theoretical framework of disordered elastic interfaces possessing a characteristic roughness scaling and complex dynamic response. It is shown that the heterogeneous disorder landscape in ferroelectric thin films leads to a breakdown of the usual self-affine roughness, possibly related to strong pinning at individual defects. Finally, the roles of varying environmental conditions and defect densities in domain switching are explored and shown to be adequately modelled as a competition between screening effects and pinning.

The MRS Symposium Proceeding series is an internationally recognised reference suitable for researchers and practitioners.

This volume contains papers presented at the IUTAM Symposium on Bubble Dynamics and Interface Phenomena held at the University of Birmingham from 6-9 September 1993. In many respects it follows on a decade later from the very successful IUTAM Symposium held at CALTECH in June 1981 on the Mechanics and physics of bubbles in liquids which was organised by the late Milton Plesset and Leen van Wijngaarden. The intervening period has seen major development with both experiment and theory. On the experimental side there have been ad vances with very high speed photography and data recording that provide detailed information on fluid and interface motion. Major developments in both computer hardware and software have also led to extensive improvement in our understand ing of bubble and interface dynamics although development is still limited by the sheer complexity of the laminar and turbulent flow regimes often associated with bubbly flows. The symposium attracts wide and extensive interest from engineers, physical, chemical, biological and medical scientists and applied mathematicians. The sci entific committee sought to achieve a balance between theory and experiment over a range of fields in bubble dynamics and interface phenomena. It was our intention to emphasise both the breadth and recent developments in these various fields and to encourage cross-fertilisation of ideas on both experimental techniques and theo retical developments. The programme, and the proceedings recorded herein, cover bubble dynamics, sound and wave propagation, bubbles in flow, sonoluminescence, acoustic cavitation, underwater explosions, bursting bubbles and ESWL.

This thesis presents recent developments in magnetic coupling phenomena of ferrimagnetic rare-earth transition-metal Tb-Fe alloys and coupled systems consisting of ferri-/ferromagnetic heterostructures. Taking advantage of the tunability of the exchange coupling between ferrimagnetic and ferromagnetic layers by means of stoichiometry of the Tb-Fe layer, the variable number of repetitions in the Co/Pt multilayer as well as the thickness of an interlayer spacer, it is demonstrated that large perpendicular unidirectional anisotropy can be induced at room temperature. This robust perpendicular exchange bias at room temperature opens up a path towards applications in spintronics.

Spintronics Handbook, Second Edition offers an update on the single most comprehensive survey of the two intertwined fields of spintronics and magnetism, covering the diverse array of materials and structures, including silicon, organic semiconductors, carbon nanotubes, graphene, and engineered nanostructures. It focuses on seminal pioneering work, together with the latest in cutting-edge advances, notably extended discussion of two-dimensional materials beyond graphene, topological insulators, skyrmions, and molecular spintronics. The main sections cover physical phenomena, spin-dependent tunneling, control of spin and magnetism in semiconductors, and spin-based applications.

Concepts, methods and techniques of statistical physics in the study of correlated, as well as uncorrelated, phenomena are being applied ever increasingly in the natural sciences, biology and economics in an attempt to understand and model the large variability and risks of phenomena. This is the first textbook written by a well-known expert that provides a modern up-to-date introduction for workers outside statistical physics.