Uncovering magnetism’s secrets. For the first time in the world, researchers at EPFL, Switzerland, have examined the magnetic energy of an isolated atom and of extremely small groups of atoms (nanostructures) placed on a surface. This discovery allows for a description of the variation in magnetic energy during the atom-by-atom formation of nanostructures. The research, conducted in cooperation with Italy, France and Germany, is the object of an article published in the reference journal Science. “For the first time ever, we have been present at the formation of the magnetic anisotropy of atoms (the characteristic of a body or an environment to evince different magnetic properties in different directions), and we have succeeded in measuring it,” says a pleased Pietro Gambardella, assistant of Prof. Harald Brune at the Institute of Nanostructure Physics. This energy has generally been observed, albeit at a very low level, in grouped atoms — for instance, in a piece of magnetic metal. It represents the capacity of magnetization to change directions even within the structure itself. Contrarily, an atom isolated in space presents no energy of magnetic anisotropy because its environment is completely isotropic (i.e. its physical properties are identical in all directions). This property explains why information contained in the magnetic bits of a hard disk remains stable over very long periods. Physicists were already aware that the magnetic properties of a free atom were different from those of a solid body formed by a substantial number of atoms. Thus, research was carried out on isolated cobalt atoms deposited on a level surface of non-magnetic platinum. The scientists were able to measure that these atoms displayed a magnetic anisotropy that was 200 times greater than that emitted by one atom among others in a cobalt crystal. When the surface was heated, the atoms formed groups consisting of 2 to 40 atoms. The energy of magnetic anisotropy then strongly decreased, even in a group made up of a mere three atoms, rapidly evolving towards the value that is typical of solid metals. With regard to the understanding and construction of aggregates of magnetic atoms on a nanometric scale, this significant progress may well inspire researchers in the conception of magnetic materials with even more efficient properties that those we know at present.
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Feely phone. The cell phone is not going away, despite their potential nuisance factor (Ever get caught behind someone at the produce counter, chatting into their hand? “Hi honey, this is Daddy. Mommy and I are at the grocery store blah-blah-blah.”). Cellular companies have even begun adding games to the units, further targeting the younger consumers. What could be next? Folks at Immersion Corp, San Jose, CA, have been demonstrating installations of their haptic force-feedback technology in consumer cell phones. “The basic technology is derived from our experience with video games,” says Dean Chang, Immersion’s CTO. The heart of the haptic system is a motor and controller that spins a mass at rates and directions that give the sensation of a golf club connecting with a golf ball, or a light saber being extended. The mechanicals would take about the same space and, over time, draw the same current as pager motors already in use in cell phones. Such a mechanism presents interesting new aspects for the market. Chang suggests the possibility of an alternative method for Caller ID by generating distinct vibration patterns for certain callers such as the spouse, the kids or the office, a feature that would be useful when the unit is parked and silent during meetings, movies or other public places. The haptic cell phone could generate a vibration to confirm that an outgoing call is actually ringing through on the other end. Those games currently being offered on cell phones could be taken to the next level of virtual reality. And most entertainingly, emoticons, those expressive faces added to text messages to emphasize an emotional state, could be replaced by an electronic purr or the sensation of a kiss. One imagines this technology could increase revenue profoundly for the entire phone-sex industry.
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For the first time in the world, researchers at EPFL, Switzerland, have examined the magnetic energy of an isolated atom and of extremely small groups of atoms (nanostructures) placed on a surface. This discovery allows for a description of the variation in magnetic energy during the atom-by-atom formation of nanostructures. The research, conducted in cooperation with Italy, France and Germany, is the object of an article published in the reference journal Science. “For the first time ever, we have been present at the formation of the magnetic anisotropy of atoms (the characteristic of a body or an environment to evince different magnetic properties in different directions), and we have succeeded in measuring it,” says a pleased Pietro Gambardella, assistant of Prof. Harald Brune at the Institute of Nanostructure Physics. This energy has generally been observed, albeit at a very low level, in grouped atoms — for instance, in a piece of magnetic metal. It represents the capacity of magnetization to change directions even within the structure itself. Contrarily, an atom isolated in space presents no energy of magnetic anisotropy because its environment is completely isotropic (i.e. its physical properties are identical in all directions). This property explains why information contained in the magnetic bits of a hard disk remains stable over very long periods. Physicists were already aware that the magnetic properties of a free atom were different from those of a solid body formed by a substantial number of atoms. Thus, research was carried out on isolated cobalt atoms deposited on a level surface of non-magnetic platinum. The scientists were able to measure that these atoms displayed a magnetic anisotropy that was 200 times greater than that emitted by one atom among others in a cobalt crystal. When the surface was heated, the atoms formed groups consisting of 2 to 40 atoms. The energy of magnetic anisotropy then strongly decreased, even in a group made up of a mere three atoms, rapidly evolving towards the value that is typical of solid metals. With regard to the understanding and construction of aggregates of magnetic atoms on a nanometric scale, this significant progress may well inspire researchers in the conception of magnetic materials with even more efficient properties that those we know at present.
The cell phone is not going away, despite their potential nuisance factor (Ever get caught behind someone at the produce counter, chatting into their hand? “Hi honey, this is Daddy. Mommy and I are at the grocery store blah-blah-blah.”). Cellular companies have even begun adding games to the units, further targeting the younger consumers. What could be next? Folks at Immersion Corp, San Jose, CA, have been demonstrating installations of their haptic force-feedback technology in consumer cell phones. “The basic technology is derived from our experience with video games,” says Dean Chang, Immersion’s CTO. The heart of the haptic system is a motor and controller that spins a mass at rates and directions that give the sensation of a golf club connecting with a golf ball, or a light saber being extended. The mechanicals would take about the same space and, over time, draw the same current as pager motors already in use in cell phones. Such a mechanism presents interesting new aspects for the market. Chang suggests the possibility of an alternative method for Caller ID by generating distinct vibration patterns for certain callers such as the spouse, the kids or the office, a feature that would be useful when the unit is parked and silent during meetings, movies or other public places. The haptic cell phone could generate a vibration to confirm that an outgoing call is actually ringing through on the other end. Those games currently being offered on cell phones could be taken to the next level of virtual reality. And most entertainingly, emoticons, those expressive faces added to text messages to emphasize an emotional state, could be replaced by an electronic purr or the sensation of a kiss. One imagines this technology could increase revenue profoundly for the entire phone-sex industry.