FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF NANOSCALE ARRAYS OF NICKEL COLUMNS

We have fabricated arrays of high aspect ratio nickel columns in both PMMA and SiO2, and we have characterized their structure using transmi ssion electron microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. We have al so characterized the magnetics of the columns with magnetic force micr oscopy. Such characterization of high aspect ratio perpendicular magne tic particles is only rarely found in the literature. This work lays a foundation for further studies to test the viability of lithographica lly defined arrays of magnetic particles as an alternative high densit y storage medium. (C) 1997 American Institute of Physics.