JFAP Application of Magnetics and Magnetic Materials to Miromechanical Devices

PI: Michael Vasile, LATech

Co-PI: Matthew Ware, Grambling

New Hires: Jia Ping Liu; Zhenchen Zhong

Abstract

The Grambling State University-Louisiana Tech University Joint Faculty program is between the Grambling department of physics and Louisiana Tech's Institute for Micromanufacturing. The emphasis of the research is on magnetic thin films, and the applications of these magnetic films in microdevices. Dr, Ping Liu and Dr filled the two Joint Faculty positions in Nov 1999. Zhenchen Zhong, and Dr Matthew Ware and Dr. Michael Vasile are the co-PI's and faculty mentors.

Ping Liu received his doctorate in physics from the University of Amsterdam, and was working as a research associate in the Center for Materials Research and Analysis of the University of Nebraska. Zhenchen Zhong received his doctorate from Cambridge University and was a post-doctoral worker, also at the Center for Materials Research and Analysis of the University of Nebraska. Both of these individuals have strong publication records, and Dr. Liu is frequently invited to speak at international conferences.

The research program has begun with the specification and ordering of the equipment, which includes a magnetometer, a rapid thermal anneal apparatus, a laser for stimulated film deposition and a unified measurement system. Proposals have been submitted to federal and state funding agencies: Dr. Liu submitted a proposal to the NSF on Jan 3 on the "Acquisition of high sensitivity magnetometers for nanomagnets research and education" and a proposal "Magnetic hardening in ultra-thin nanostructured films" is in preparation for the Army Research Office. Dr. Zhong has submitted a proposal to the Board of Regents Support Fund entitled "Selective area laser induced solution deposition of complex materials for electronic/magnetic devices" and a second proposal has submitted to the DOE entitled "Novel preparation and magneto chemical characterization of nano-particle mixed alcohol catalysis" has been funded. Dr. Zhong has two proposals in preparation, "Acquisition of Physical Property Measurement System (PPMS) for Cutting-Edge Research and Education in Nanotechnology" (NSF or DOD) and "Self-Assembly Nanofabrication of nanoscale magnetic/electronic materials and devices" (NSF or DOE). These proposals involve research at both universities, as well as limited collaboration with the MINT Center at the University of Alabama, and the Advanced Materials Research Institute at the University of New Orleans. Both JFAP professors have visited each of these latter institutes, and have established good working relationships with them.

The new JFAP hires are being integrated into the instructional programs at both universities, and their role has been both curriculum development and classroom instruction. Dr. Liu began teaching in the spring semester (2000) at Grambling State, where he is developing a course on solid state physics for advanced undergraduates, within the medium of powerpoint. Dr. Liu will teach this course at Louisiana Tech in the fall quarter of 2000, at the graduate/advanced undergraduate level. Dr. Zhong began teaching in two graduate courses in the spring quarter at Louisiana Tech, in a team teaching effort on Thin Film Deposition and Etching and Materials Analysis and Characterization. The latter are two new courses, and the instructors develop the course content.

The JFAP team has also sponsored a joint seminar program under the JFAP/SE addition to the grant. Several nationally renown researchers were invited and seminars have been delivered at Grambling and at Louisiana Tech. Speakers include Prof. Theodore Madey of Rutgers University, Dr. John Coburn, IBM San Jose and Berkeley, Anselm Griffin, Dean of the Graduate School, University Southern Mississippi, and Dr. Olivier Isnard, Universite Joseph Fourier, Grenoble, France. This seminar program has two objectives: 1. Provide stimulus for the undergraduates to attend graduate school in the sciences, and 2. Present high quality advanced seminars for the faculties and graduate students at both Louisiana Tech and at Grambling.