Magnetic Interfaces and Nanostructure Division (and Technical Group)

In 1996, the Board approved the formation of the Magnetic Interfaces and Nanostructures Technical Group, with Barry Jonker as chair, and this evolved into the Magnetic Interfaces and Nanostructures Division (MIND) in 2000. The Group originated from the topical conferences on "Magnetic Surfaces, Interfaces and Nanostructures" at the 1995 and 1996 International Symposia and organized focused sessions at the Symposium which reflect the interests of a growing research community in magnetic properties at interfaces and in confined geometries. A portion of this interest stems from the use of magnetic materials in electronic devices and information technology. Magnetic multilayer materials and the property of "giant magnetoresistance" (GMR) have already played a major role in magnetic recording technology, and other innovations that have been revealed in MIN technical sessions promise to have as much impact. At the core of the MIN philosophy, however, is a desire to understand the basic physics/chemistry of magnetic materials and the drastic changes that can occur when their dimensions are reduced.

The chairs of the Technical Group and the Division were:

The MIN Technical Group awarded the Leo M Falicov Best Student Paper Award for the first time in 1997 and the Award is now made by the Division; the winners are listed below. Leopoldo Maximo Falicov helped to define the theoretical foundations of the field of surface magnetism, and is widely recognized for his substantial contributions to magnetism and other fields of solid state physics. His important contributions include theories of transport phenomena in magnetic fields, such as in the de Haas-van Alphen effect, and of giant magnetoresistance in multilayers. His work on the magnetic properties of surfaces, particularly those of chromium, also attract frequent notice. He is well known as lead author of the influential review "Surface, Interface, and Thin-film Magnetism" published in 1990.* One of Leo's most attractive attributes was his interest in the development of human potential as represented by his efforts to promote science in Latin America and other underdeveloped countries. He possessed a quick mind, boundless energy and enthusiasm for science, and a great love of poetry, opera and art. He was frequently called upon to provide the summarizing overview at the end of conferences and workshops. On these occasions he characteristically would humbly demonstrate a fuller command of the transactions than the original presenters. He would never forget a face, and could effortlessly restart a conversation that had lapsed years before without missing a beat. The Leo Falicov Student Award is aptly named, because in his service and dedication to the scientific community and in his human warmth and intellectual dynamism he remains an inspiration and a model to be emulated. Leopoldo Maximo Falicov was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on June 24, 1933. He received an undergraduate degree in Chemistry from the University of Buenos Aires in 1957, and both undergraduate and doctoral degrees in Physics from the University of Cuyo, Argentina in 1958. He completed a second Ph.D. in Physics at Cambridge University in England the next year under Professor Volker Heine, but had to wait for it to be awarded until 1960 because the University had a two-year residency rule for doctorates. He became a faculty member and full professor at the University of Chicago. In 1969, he moved to the Physics Department of the University of California at Berkeley, where he remained until his untimely death on January 24, 1995. In the course of his career he chaired the Physics Department at Berkeley, was a Fellow of the American Physical Society and a member of the National Academy of Science. He held visiting positions at more than 20 universities around the world, and was also a member of the National Academy of Science in Denmark and Argentina.

* L.M. Falicov, D.T. Pierce, S.D. Bader, R. Gronsky, K. B. Hathaway, H. J. Hopster, D.N. Lambeth, S.S.P. Parkin, G. Prinz, M. Salamon, I.K. Schuller, and R.H. Victora, J. Mater. Res. 5, 1299 (1990).

Leo Falicov Student Award Winners

1997

R. K. Kawakami, University of California, Berkeley (Z. Q. Qiu, advisor)

Exploring Step-Induced Magnetic Anisotropies in Ultrathin Films

1998

No award made.

1999

W.H. Rippard, Cornell University (R.A. Buhrman, advisor)

Ballistic Electron Emission Microscopy:  Imaging Magnetic Domains with Nanometer Resolution

2000

R.D. Portugal, Pontifica Universidad Catolica, Chile  (M. Kiwi, advisor)

Positive Exchange Bias Model:  Fe / FeF₂ and Fe /MnF₂ Bilayers

2001

B.D. Schultz, University of Minnesota (C. J. Palmstrom, advisor)

Structural and Magnetic Characterization of the Fe_xCo_1-x / GaAs(100) Interface

2002

E.L.  Bizdoaca, Technische Universitat Braunschweig  (M. Farler, advisor)

Self-Assembly and Magnetism in Novel Core-Shell Microspheres

2003

T.C. Kaspar, University of Washington (J.W. Rogers, advisor)

Materials Characterization and Magnetic Studies of Epitaxial Co_xTi_1-xO_2-x Deposited on Si(001) by Molecular Beam Epitaxy

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