Abstract

Magnetics technology can be broadly divided into two categories of bulk materials and thin film technological materials. Most research is centred on thin film technology and hence so is this lecture.

Thin film magnetics technology is invariably based on sputtering whereby polycrystalline films with grain sizes typically 10 to 15nm are used. The underlying physics of why sputtering technology is used will be presented in detail including a review of the basic magnetism of single domain fine particles i.e. the Stoner Wohlfarth Theory. The lecture then goes on to look at the application of such thin film materials particularly in hard drive technology but also in potential applications in spintronics.