Center for Materials for Information Technology
Materials Research Science and Engineering Center
The MINT Center was selected in 1994, 1998 and again in 2002 by the National Science Foundation from over 150 university programs to be one of the twenty-nine Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers (MRSEC) in the U.S. The amount of the award in 2002, of $1M/year for six years provides both stability and a significant increase in research funds for the Center. The MRSEC addresses the physical limits that threaten to slow the rate of increase in storage densities, two major research concentrations of the MINT Center. 16 faculty from five academic departments, along with faculty from the University of Pittsburgh and the University of Virginia, participate in two interdisciplinary research groups (IRG) and one seed project.
The selection of the Center in a highly competitive national competition to be an MRSEC is a gratifying testimonial to the commitment by the University, the industrial sponsors, and the faculty to the goals of the Center. The new organization is evolving seamlessly from the present MINT Center organization which has proven very effective. The new NSF funding greatly enhances the value of the Center to industrial sponsors, since it will provide sponsors with greater research leverage for their membership fees.
The responsibilities charged to the MRSEC by the NSF include the performance of multidisciplinary materials research of the highest quality, education for all levels, enhanced participation of women and members of under-represented groups, industry collaboration, and shared facilities. The Center also participates in a nationwide network of Materials Research Science and Engineering Centers.
IRG-1: Dynamics and Transport in Nanostructured Magnetic Materials
A. Gupta (Group Leader), Department of Chemistry / Chemical Engineering; W. Butler, H. Fujiwara, G. Mankey, R. Schad, P. Visscher, Department of Physics; T. Klein, Department of Chemical Engineering; and G. Zangari, Department of Materials Science and Engineering: University of Virginia.
IRG-2: Materials for Information Storage Media
D. Nikles (Group Leader), S. Blackstock , S. Street, G. Szulczewski, Department of Chemistry; J. Barnard, Department of Materials Science and Engineering : University of Pittsburgh; J.W. Harrell, Department of Physics; and M. Weaver, Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
SEED: Domain Wall Switching in Anisotropy Graded FeNiPtPd Media
J.W. Harrell, Dept. of Physics and Astronomy, and Greg Thompson, Dept. of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
This project involves a new concept for extending the superparamagnetic limit in ultra-high density magnetic recording media involving anisotropy graded media. In order to demonstrate the feasibility of this new concept, we are fabricating and characterizing compositionally graded, chemically ordered FeNiPtPd films.
Highlights
Publications