NSF East Asia and Pacific Summer Institute for FY 2012 in Taiwan

Greene Peter K, Davis CA

Investigators

Abstract

This action funds Peter Greene of University of California, Davis to conduct a research project, entitled "Modifying magnetic nanostructures for high density information storage," during the summer of 2012 at National Tsing Hua University in Hsinchu. The host scientist is Prof. Chih-Huang Lai. The Intellectual Merit of the research project is to determine the time dependant coercivity of tailored magnetic nanostructures constructed of Cobalt and Palladium super-lattices using magneto optical kerr effect (MOKE). This study gives important, quantitative insight into the viability of graded anisotropy magnetic media as the basis for future hard disk drive media. Magnetic recording media form the backbone of large scale data storage. The need for even higher density data storage media is ever increasing. No other technology is as prevalent or as scalable as magnetic recording. However, the point where the sizes of magnetic bits are measured in number of atoms is quickly being approached. It is this issue that motivates the research: how to create ultra dense yet stable and useable magnetic media. Broader Impacts of an EAPSI fellowship include providing the Fellow a first-hand research experience outside the U.S.; an introduction to the science, science policy, and scientific infrastructure of the respective location; and an orientation to the society, culture and language. These activities meet the NSF goal to educate for international collaborations early in the career of its scientists, engineers, and educators, thus ensuring a globally aware U.S. scientific workforce.