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Highlights

May 10, 2011
UMD Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (2005)

Microscope maps the graphene terrain

A. E. Curtin, W. G. Cullen, M. S. Fuhrer, (University of Maryland MRSEC)R. L. Myers-Ward, L. O. Nyakiti, C. R. Eddy, Jr., V. D. Wheeler, D. K. Gaskill (Naval Research Laboratory)  

Graphene, a single atom-thin sheet of carbon, can be used to make ultra-fast electronics. Researchers at the University of Maryland Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (MRSEC) are collaborating with the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) to understand how graphene forms on the surface of silicon carbide.  Growing graphene on silicon carbide could provide a platform to manufacture high speed graphene transistors which could find uses in applications ranging from advanced radar to miniaturized cellphones.  
May 10, 2011
UMD Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (2005)

Atomic Resolution Imaging at 2.5 GHz using Near Field Microwave Microscopy

Ichiro Takeuchi,  University of Maryland MRSEC, DMR 0520471

Sub-nanometer probes of surfaces provide important information about chemical and physical properties of materials at atomic level.  Microwave microscopy (left) is used to study materials properties at GHz (109 sec-1). This is the frequency range relevant for computers and cell phones, for which the materials are being explored. We show for the first time that one can image atoms at this frequency (right).
May 10, 2011
UMD Materials Research Science and Engineering Center (2005)

Vortices and Antivortices on a Crosstie Wall

R. D. Gomez and S.H. ChungUniversity of Maryland MRSEC, DMR 0520471

On the left is a magnetic force microscope (MFM) image of a CoFeB patterned film, and on the right is a representation of the micromagnetics (distribution of local magnetic moments). The pattern
Apr 29, 2011
UChicago Materials Research Center (2014)

Jamming as Enabling Technology for Soft Robotics

 Eric Brown (University of Chicago), Nicholas Rodenberg (University of Chicago), John Amend (Cornell University), Annan Mozeika (iRobot G and I Research), Erik Steltz (iRobot G and I Research), Mitchell R. Zakin (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), Hod Lipson (Cornell University), Heinrich M. Jaeger (University of Chicago) 

Basic science concepts developed in IRG1 about jamming of granular materials enabled the development of a new class of soft robotic systems.  The image is of a jamming gripper which conforms to complex or fragile objects in the unjammed state, then hardens by jamming.  This work is a collaboration between the University of Chicago, the Cornell University Department of  Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering and iRobot Corp.
Apr 29, 2011
UChicago Materials Research Center (2014)

MRSEC-Inspired Exhibits at the Exploratorium

Since 2006, members of the University of Chicago MRSEC have visited the Exploratorium and hosted reverse-visits by Exploratorium artists and scientists. The long-term goal is the realization of MRSEC-inspired exhibits on the Exploratorium floor. The picture on the left is of Shawn Lani (formerly, Exploratorium) and Sid Nagel discussing the beautiful and compelling structures made by a vibrated cornstarch/water mixture.
Apr 26, 2011
JHU Materials Research Science Engineering Center (2005)

EXAFS Studies of Local Structure in MTJ

A. K. Rumaiz, J. C. Woicik, W. G. Wang, J. Jordan-Sweet, G. H. Jaffari, C. Ni, J. Q. Xiao, and C. L. Chien,

Background: CoFeB-MgO magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJs) are leading spintronic devices that relies on quantum Mechanical tunneling of electrons from one magnetic metal (CoFeB) to another across an insulating barrier of MgO. The electrical resistance of such MTJs is dictated by the orientation of the two CoFeB metals, parallel or antiparallel.   The performance of MTJ is measured by tunneling magnetoresistance (TMR), which is only 20% initially, but greatly increases to 200% after high temperature annealing (Fig. 1). We reveal the evolution of the local structure during annealing.
Apr 25, 2011
JHU Materials Research Science Engineering Center (2005)

High School Student Research Internships at the Johns Hopkins

Background: The JHU MRSEC conducts extensive K-12 educational outreach programs aimed at promoting interest in and awareness of the importance of modern materials research. High school students from the greater Baltimore area receive four-week internships each July to conduct research in the laboratories of the JHU MRSEC. The students are mentored by Center faculty, and also work closely with graduate students and/or postdoctoral fellows.  At the end of the month, each student gives a 20-minute talk describing his/her project at a symposium
Apr 25, 2011
JHU Materials Research Science Engineering Center (2005)

Dynamics of Magnetic Charges in Spin Ice

P. Mellado, O. Petrova, Y. C. Shen, and O. Tchernyshyov,

Background: A bar magnet has two poles, denoted as +1 and -1 magnetic charges.  Patterned structuresconsist of many magnets (Fig. 1), where the square array (Fig. 1a) does not, whereas the honeycomb (Fig. 1b) has, net magnetic charges (or magnetic monopoles).  Under a magnetic field these local magnetic monopoles will move (Fig. 1c).  This latter structure is called “spin ice”, because it has a large number of nearly degenerate configurations. This work: We propose a theoretical model of the dynamics in artificial spin ice under an applied