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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M82837/01
Title: SUBMICRON SIZED SPIN-VALVE HEADS AND EXCHANGE PINNING LAYERS
Principal Investigator: Pan, Professor G
Other Investigators:
Clegg, Professor W Mapps, Professor D
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Micrion Corporation Ltd Seagate Technology
Department: Communication & Electronic Eng
Organisation: University of Plymouth
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 May 2000 Ends: 31 July 2002 Value (£): 95,915
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Characterisation
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
Electronics No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The aim of the project is to fabricate and investigate submicron sized spin-valve heads and their required exchange pinning materials for ultra-high areal density magnetic recording. State-of-the-art FEB/FIB nanofabricatiion technology will be employed (collaborating with Micrion) for the fabrication of devices down to a size of 0.1 micron. Submicron-sized working heads will be studied by advanced Scanning Kerr Effect Microscope, Magnetoresistive Sensitivity Mapping System (collaborating with Seagate) and other magnetic and magneto-transport measurement instruments to obtain a better understanding of the device physics. New antiferromagnetic exchange pinning layers and a new spin-valve structures will be explored and developed to meet the requirements of submicron-sized heads. Advanced FIB TEM techniques (collaborating with Micrion) will be used for cross-sectional specimen preparation for the study of the results from device physics and materials research, aiming to demonstrate a working head with desirable characteristics for areal density of 40-60 Gb/square-inch.These research topics are of great importance to the next generation of advanced computer disk drives and fall within the remit of Advanced Magnetics Programme.
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Organisation Website: http://www.plym.ac.uk