Magnetism on a nano level

Olle Eriksson, professor of theoretical magnetism, and his research team at the Ångström Laboratory have a good idea of what happens if you spin the well-ordered atoms out of equilibrium. Based on theoretical models, they make computer simulations of how magnetic materials behave on a nano level and how to influence the material properties.

‘There are many applications, for example in data storage. Most hard disks are made of magnetic material and can be made smaller, faster and more energy-efficient,’ says researcher Anders Bergman.

The simulations and calculations require a lot of computing power, as the researchers are looking at such a high resolution and simultaneously studying large systems of millions of atoms. This is why the research team uses the computer cluster at Uppmax. When more processing power is available, larger systems can be studied and with greater accuracy.

‘We have a great base for theory building in Sweden, where infrastructure with super computers to do advanced calculations are very well constructed. This infrastructure is very important to us and other theorists,’ says Olle Eriksson.

At the present time a project is in progress, a collaboration with KTH and the University of Gothenburg, that will test the theories in practice. The project is funded by the Knut and Alice Wallenberg Foundation and is led by Olle Eriksson.

‘We have come a long way as we have worked on this on a theoretical level over a few years. Now we can also build an experimental environment where we hope to verify our theories,’ says Olle Eriksson.

You can consider each magnetic material as a collection of atomic-sized magnets that align in specified directions. We have a good understanding of why they arrange themselves in this way, but what happens when they are forced out of equilibrium, for example, to align in a different direction, is essentially a blank piece of paper.

‘The theory predicts several interesting phenomena, especially when we study magnets in the nano range, and with the experiments we will now be able to do, you can say that we are extending a hand towards technical applications of our knowledge,’ says Olle Eriksson.