ULTRASMOOTH: Ultrasmooth magnetic layers for advanced devices

• Research unit: EU RFP
• Project number: 03.0606

Key words (English)

Data storage; tunnel junctions; magnetic materials

Alternative project number (English)

EU project number: 504462

Research programs (English)

EU-programme: 6. Frame Research Programme - 2.2.1 Marie-Curie Research Training Networks

Short description (English)

See abstract

Abstract (English)

ULTRASMOOTH aims to i) achieve breakthroughs in the quality of metallic thin film morphology through the use of advanced ion-beam irradiation and other techniques and ii) to provide high quality training in the techniques for growth, processing and characterisation of ultrasmooth magnetic layers to at least 11 researchers. This network brings together eight leading academic laboratories and three industrial partners from across Europe whose expertise lies in the areas of growth, modification and characterisation of ultra-thin magnetic films. The postdoctoral and postgraduate researchers hired as part of the network team will significantly advance their knowledge and skills through research, dissemination and training. Guided by the industrial partners, experiments designed to improve the growth, crystallinity and surface quality, characterisation and prototype devices will be performed at university laboratories, research centres, industrial research laboratories and European large-scale facilities such as ILL and ESRF. The objectives of this network are to:
a) Provide a minimum of 324 person-months of comprehensive researcher training (44% Early Stage and 56% Experienced Researchers) over 4 years.
b) Integrate leading expertise in Europe around challenging technical goals and provide holistic training based on state-of- the-art research, secondments and exchanges and complementary training in management skills.
c) Improve the growth of ultrasmooth layers by understanding the underlying physics.
d) Invent new concepts for generating ultrasmoooth magnetic layers, improve film morphology by post-growth smoothing techniques and develop new tools and novel techniques for advanced characterisation of magnetic layers.

References in databases (English)

Swiss Database: Euro-DB of the
State Secretariat for Education and Research
Hallwylstrasse 4
CH-3003 Berne, Switzerland
Tel. [phone]
Swiss Project-Number: 03.0606