Materials Science and Technology Series: Synthetic Modulated Structures focuses on synthetic modulated structures, which is described as any periodically perturbed materials with a repetition greater than the basic unit cell dimension. The book is organized into three parts. Part I provides a perspective of developments and structural characterization of the semiconductor and metal area. The electronic properties in different configurations and structures, including compositional and doping modulation are covered in Part II. Part III begins with preparation methods, followed by a discussion on distinctive fields of interest in metals, transport and magnetic properties, superconductivity, and diffusion. This publication is a good source for students and researchers conducting work in the general area of modulated structures.

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 ability to understand and control the unique properties of interfaces has created an entirely new field of magnetism, with profound impact in technology and serving as the basis for a revolution in electronics. Our understanding of the physics of magnetic nanostructures has also advanced significantly. This rapid development has generated a need for a comprehensive treatment that can serve as an introduction to the field for those entering it from diverse fields, but which will also serve as a timely overview for those already working in this area. The four-volume work Ultra-Thin Magnetic Structures aims to fulfill this dual need. The original two volumes – now available once more – are An Introduction to the Electronic, Magnetic and Structural Properties (this volume) and "Measurement Techniques and Novel Magnetic Properties." Two new volumes, "Fundamentals of Nanomagnetism" and "Applications of Nanomagnetism," extend and complete this comprehensive work by presenting the foundations of spintronics.

The exotic properties of magnetic materials provide multiple avenues for research as well as the possibility for energy-efficient, faster and cheaper technologies. Especially, earlier few decades had been crucial for the advancement of memory devices in-terms of size, speed, price and availability. Material science scientific community has been dedicated for developing next generation memory devices. The presence of a strong perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) in magnetic materials serve as building blocks for the formation of skyrmions which are promising candidates for next generation memory devices. This dissertation discusses the fundamentals of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI) which is responsible for the formation of skyrmions in magnetic multilayers. Especially this dissertation discusses the First Principle calculation technique and micromagnetic simulations to estimate the magnitude and sign of DMI and estimation of higher-order perpendicular anisotropy in ferromagnetic multilayers.In the first study presented in this dissertation, the basis of DMI, spin spirals and penalty energy parameters are discussed and the magnitude and strength of DMI vector in Pt/Co multilayers is estimated and related with proximity effect. In the second study presented, the origin of higher-order contribution of perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) are studied in ferromagnetic bilayers using micromagnetic simulations. These simulations showed that spatial inhomogeneities of the first-order perpendicular anisotropy may be the origin of higher-order anisotropies in magnetic multilayers.

This book focuses on an increasingly important area of materials science and technology, namely, the fabrication and properties of artificial materials where slabs of magnetized materials are sandwiched between slabs of nonmagnetized materials. It includes reviews by experts on the theory and descriptions of the various experimental techniques such as those using nuclear or electron spin probes, as well as optical, X-ray or neutron probes. It also reviews potential applications such as the giant magnetoresistance, and one specialized preparation technique, the electrodeposition. The various chapters are tutorial in nature, making the subject accessible to nonspecialists, as well as useful to researchers in the field.

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 ability to understand and control the unique properties of interfaces has created an entirely new field of magnetism which already has a profound impact in technology and is providing the basis for a revolution in electronics. The last decade has seen dramatic progress in the development of magnetic devices for information technology but also in the basic understanding of the physics of magnetic nanostructures. This volume describes thin film magnetic properties and methods for characterising thin film structure topics that underpin the present 'spintronics' revolution in which devices are based on combined magnetic materials and semiconductors. Volume IV deals with the fundamentals of spintronics: magnetoelectronic materials, spin injection and detection, micromagnetics and the development of magnetic random access memory based on GMR and tunnel junction devices. Together these books provide readers with a comprehensive account of an exciting and rapidly developing field. The treatment is designed to be accessible both to newcomers and to experts already working in this field who would like to get a better understanding of this very diversified area of research.