The Symposium on Magnetic Ultrathin Films, Multilayers and Surfaces, hosted by the European Materials Research Society, was held at the Palais de la Musique et des Congré in Strasbourg, France on June 4-7, 1996. Its central theme was the relationship of magnetic properties and device performance to structure at the nano and micrometer length scale. Research on the magnetism of surfaces, ultrathin films and multilayers has increased dramatically during recent years. This development was triggered by the discovery of coupling between ferromagnetic layers across nonmagnetic spacer layers and of the giant magnetoresistance effect in systems of reduced dimension using various micro and nanofabrication techniques has become a subject of special interest. It is certainly the promising application potential of these effects in new magnetic recording device geometries which causes this intensive research, which is done both by companies and at universities and research institutes. A selection of invited and contributed papers presented at the Symposium and accepted for publication is contained in this volume. The contents of these proceedings are organized into seven sections. A. Nanowires, Nanoparticles, Nanostructuring B. Ultrathin Films and Surfaces, Characterization C. Giant Magnetoresistance D. Coupling, Tunneling E. Growth, Structure, Magnetism F. Growth, Structure, Magnetoresistance G. Coupling, Magnetic processes, Magneto-optics. The first four sections contain invited and oral contributed papers in the listed research domains, while the last three sections contain the contributions presented during three large poster sessions.

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

Proceedings of the March 1997 symposium, the central thrust being the relationship of magnetic properties and device performance to structure at the atomic, nanometer, and submicron length scales in these systems of reduced dimensionality. The 89 contributions cover the following topics: synthesis, processing, and characterization; novel applications and approaches for magnetism; nano-microstructure and magnetic properties; structure and properties--mixing, strain, and steps; nanoscale magnetic confinement, particles, and arrays; magnetization reversal and domain structure; synthesis and characterization; synchrotron radiation studies of magnetic materials; magneto-optical properties, effects, and measurements; magnetic phenomena; CMR and tunneling; and interlayer coupling and spin polarization. Annotation copyrighted by Book News, Inc., Portland, OR

This unified overview of recent progress in a growing, multi-disciplinary field places special emphasis on the industrial applications of magnetic multilayered materials. The text describes a wide range of physical aspects, together with experimental and theoretical methods.

Materials Research in thin and ultrathin magnetic structures is a multidisciplinary field which heavily relies on state-of-the-art growth, characterization and theoretical approaches to build a comprehensive physical picture on how magnetic properties depend on interfacial structural issues, interlayer coupling and transport phenomena. Often in this field, the critical properties and characterization required necessitates knowledge of structural and magnetic phenomena extending over several atomic planes. Atomic controlled growth techniques are required and atomic sensitivity is needed from magnetic and structural probes. This critical knowledge is vital for device applications, providing the basis for the synergistic interactions that are predominant in this field of research. This volume is the definitive reference source for anyone interested in the latest advances and results of current experimental research in ultrathin film magnetism.

The NATO Advanced Research Workshop on "Nanomagnetic Devices" was held in Miraflores de la Sierra, Madrid, Spain, from 14 to 19 September 1992. This book contains 21 invited articles related to suggestive and relevant aspects of Magnetism. The NATO Advanced Research Workshop was Co-directed by R.C. O'Handley, B. Heinrich and A. Hernando. The organisers as well as the participants are gratefully acknowledged to the NATO Science Committee. I also wish to thank the publishers for their advice and help in organizing the book. xi DESIDERATA OF STORAGE DEVICES C.E. YEACK-SCRANTON IBM Corporation, E02/005 5600 Cottle Road San Jose, CA 95139 USA ABSTRACT. Typical requirements on cost, capacity, and performance of today's magnetic storage devices and industry trends in these attributes are given. Scaling components, devices, and materials is shown to be a key factor in further improvement, Challenges to continued scaling are reviewed, particularly as they relate to magnetic nano-structures, materials, and characterization techniques.