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School of Physics & Astronomy
116 Church Street S.E.
Minneapolis, MN, 55455
Phone: 612-624-7375
Fax: 612-624-4578
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Magnetism

Understanding one of the most powerful tools in physics

Understanding magnetism is one of the long-standing problems in condensed matter physics. Research at Minnesota addresses several important questions, including the effect of interfaces on magnetic properties and the behavior of magnetic systems at nanometer length scales and sub-nanosecond time scales. Work in these areas has application to information storage technology as well as the development of new electronic devices.

Pete Eames of the Magnetic Microscopy Research Group operates a modified magnetic force microscope.
Magnetic fields are a common experimental tool in many areas of physics, but there are also experimental efforts to understand the nature of magnetism. The Magnetic Microscopy Research Group studies magnetic nanostructures using magnetic force microscopy. The goal of the work is to understand the relationship between the magnetic properties and transport properties in multilayers. Professor Dan Dahlberg and his students have developed tools such as high-resolution magnetic force microscopy and new transport techniques in order to probe the effect of interfaces and restricted dimensionality on a large variety of magnetic systems.

Professor Paul Crowell's research group is studying spin transport and dynamics in correlated systems and magnetic heterostructures using electronic and magneto-optical measurements. They are also developing real-time techniques (picosecond time scales), including time-resolved Kerr microscopy (TRKM). Students in his lab work on a variety of projects in optics, cryogenics, and the design and processing of magnetic and semiconductor heterostructures. Professors Crowell and Dahlberg are collaborating on studying dynamics on length scales that can be probed using scanning techniques.

Professor Goldman, using thin film growth techniques developed for high temperature superconductors, grows heterostructures of alkaline earth manganites, materials which exhibit the phenomenon of colossal magnetoresistance. The magnetic properties of these systems are studied in collaboration with Professor Dahlberg.

Professor Michael Zudov uses relatively low magnetic fields in combination with microwave radiation to study two dimensional electron gases (system a metal in which electrons a re confined to a two-dimensional plane at the interface between two semiconductors.) His research recently discovered a zero resistance state in 2DEG.

Closely tied to the experimental efforts in the department is the theoretical work of Professor Charles Campbell. He and his students have been working on several problems relating to the statistical mechanics, magnetic nanostructure, and dynamics of magnetic materials. Campbell uses simulation techniques that incorporate all of the interactions and geometrical conditions necessary to examine real magnetic systems. His results can be compared with magnetic force microscopy (MFM) results as well as time-resolved Kerr microscopy (TRKM) images from the Spin Dynamics and Magneto-optics lab.

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