Springer Modern Magnetic and Spintronic Materials: Properties and Applications (NATO Science for Peace and Security Series B: Physics and Biophysics)

Magnetic and spintronic materials are ubiquitous in modern technological applications, e.g. in electric motors, power generators, sensors and actuators, not to mention information storage and processing. Medical technology has also greatly benefited from magnetic materials – especially magnetic nanoparticles – for therapy and diagnostics methods. All of the above-mentioned applications rely on the properties of the materials used. These properties in turn depend on intrinsic and extrinsic material parameters. The former are related to the actual elements used and their properties, e.g. atomic magnetic moment and exchange interaction between atoms; the latter are related to the structural and microstructural properties of the materials used, e.g. their crystal structure, grain size, and grain boundary phases. Focusing on state-of-the-art magnetic and spintronic materials, this book will introduce readers to a range of related topics in Physics and Materials Science. Phenomena and processes at the nanoscale are of particular importance in this context; accordingly, much of the book addresses such topics. From the Back Cover Magnetic and spintronic materials are ubiquitous in modern technological applications, e.g. in electric motors, power generators, sensors and actuators, not to mention information storage and processing. Medical technology has also greatly benefited from magnetic materials – especially magnetic nanoparticles – for therapy and diagnostics methods. All of the above-mentioned applications rely on the properties of the materials used. These properties in turn depend on intrinsic and extrinsic material parameters. The former are related to the actual elements used and their properties, e.g. atomic magnetic moment and exchange interaction between atoms; the latter are related to the structural and microstructural properties of the materials used, e.g. their crystal structure, grain size, and grain boundary phases. Focusing on state-of-the-art magnetic and spintronic materials, this book will introduce readers to a range of related topics in Physics and Materials Science. Phenomena and processes at the nanoscale  About the Author Dr. Andreas Kaidatzis, Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, National Centre for Scientific Research “Demokritos”, Athens, Greece e-mail: a.kaidatzis@inn.demokritos.gr Dr. Kaidatzis holds a first degree in Physics (2003) and a postgraduate degree in Materials Physics (2005), obtained from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece and a doctoral degree in Solid State Physics obtained from the University of Paris 11 (2008) as a Marie-Curie Fellow. He has worked as postdoctoral Researcher at the Institute of Microelectronics of NCSR “Demokritos” (2010-2011) and at the Institute of Microelectronics of Madrid (2011-2013) in the framework of an Individual Marie-Curie Fellowship. His work was focused on the study of magnetic thin films and nanostructures using magnetic force microscopy. Since May 2013 he is working as a Research Associate at the Institute of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology of NCSR “Demokritos”, studying magnetic and spintronic materials for memories, data recording, sensors, and permanent magnets applications. Dr. Kaidatzis has participated in several international research projects, granted from the European Commission, the Spanish research council (CSIC), and the Hellenic General Secretariat for Research and Technology. He has published his work in 18 peer-reviewed journals and presented more than 50 abstracts in national and international conferences. Prof. Dr. Serhii Sidorenko, Metals Physics Department, National Technical University of Ukraine “Igor Sikorsky Kyiv Polytechnic Institute”, Kyiv, Ukraine e-mail: sidorenko@kpi.ua Prof. Dr. Sidorenko graduated from the Moscow Institute of Steel and Alloys (1971). In 1987 he defended his doctoral thesis. Research activities of Prof. Sidorenko are linked with advanced