MAGNETIC NANOSTRUCTURES

Magnetic materials have become controllable on the nanometre scale. Su ch fine structures exhibit a wide range of fascinating phenomena, such as low-dimensional magnetism, induced magnetization in noble metals, electron interference patterns, oscillatory magnetic coupling and 'gia nt' magnetoresistance. Magnetic multilayers with nanometre spacings ar e among the first metallic quantum structures to become incorporated i nto electronic devices, such as reading heads for hard discs. This art icle is intended to familiarize the reader with the physics and techno logy of magnetic canostructures. It starts out with recent progress in nanofabrication, gives a tutorial on the connection between electroni c states and magnetic properties, surveys the stale of the art in char acterization techniques, explains unique phenomena in two-, one- and z ero-dimensional structures, points out applications in magnetic storag e technology and considers fundamental limits to storage density. Part icular emphasis is placed on the connection between magnetism and the underlying electronic states, such as the spin-split energy bands, s: p versus d states, surface states, and quantum well states.