A High Applied Field Magnetizing Holder for the TEM

The DOE is seeking a capability that will allow samples in electron microscopes to be subjected to high magnetic fields. Some of the most exciting scientific developments are being made in the field of nanoscale magnetic materials, for example the discovery of the giant magneto resistance (GMR) and tunnel magneto resistance effects, which are still not fully understood. The behavior of multiferroic materials that exhibit both magnetism and, for example, ferroelectricity is also of considerable interest because they can lead to novel behavior at the nanoscale. This project will create a sample manipulation device that will allow researchers to expose magnetic and multiferroic samples to high magnetic fields, concomitant with imaging inside advanced high-resolution electron microscopes. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee Interest in functional nanostructures is created by the strong nanoscale confinement and exchange phenomena shown by these systems, which are exciting from a fundamental scientific aspect and are important technologically. In addition to the DOE application, the results of this effort ¿ while fundamental ¿ should have direct relevance to the creation of magnetic hard drive media, and can be expected to lead to new functional magnetic and multiferroic devices with wide ranging technological impact.