Thesis (M.S.) -- Mississippi State University. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering. / Title from title screen. Includes bibliographical references.

Pulsed LASER deposition (PLD) is widely recognized as excellent deposition technique owing to stoichiometric transfer of target material, easy preparation and high quality. Thin films from few nanometers to micrometer regime can be fabricated with equal ease. Although a batch process is not suitable for mass scale industrial production, PLD is a versatile technique, efficient and convenient for high quality basic research.  This thesis illustrates the use of PLD technique to study the emerging trends in tailoring multifunctional magnetic thin films both from basic nanoscience and device development point of view.      After a comprehensive review of magnetism in chapter 1: entitled ‘A journey through classical to modern trends in magnetism, and multifunctional thin film devices’ followed by a reasonably thorough discussion on Pulsed Laser thin film technique in Chapter 2, we present: Studies of tailoring composite high energy product permanent magnetic FePtB based thin films for applications in NEMS /MEMS, (Chapter 3). Study of search for new multiferroic materials by investigating the properties of Chromites. Crystalline Chromites are antiferromagnetic below 150oC.  However depositing thin films by PLD of the crystalline 95.5% dense targets produced by Surface Plasma Sintering, we discovered that the resulting films were amorphous and ferromagnetic beyond room temperature. Moreover advanced spectroscopic techniques revealed that the amorphized state is metallic with Cr in a mixed valence state.   An understanding of the underlying physics of the observed phenomenon has been carried out based on first principles calculations.  These results are now being considered for publication in a high profile journal.  Extensive studies on the films showing that these materials are ferromagnetic, but not ferroelectric are discussed in chapter 4. A preliminary presentation of these studies was pier reviewed and published in MRS symposium proceedings. Fabrication of Room temperature, Transparent, high moment soft ferromagnetic amorphous Bulk metallic glass based FeBNbY thin films by PLD, suitable for Nanolithography in NEMS/MEMS device development .  (Chapter 5) From a basic study point of view on new trends on magnetism we present: 4. The use of PLD technique to demonstrate room temperature ferromagnetism in undoped MgO, and V-doped MgO thin films.  Both of these oxides which do not contain any intrinsically magnetic elements and are diamagnetic in their bulk form belong to a new class of magnetic films, the so called d0magnets signifying that robust above room temperature ferromagnetism arising from defects and controlled carriers and no occupied d-states can be tailored in semiconductors and insulators.  These, mostly ZnO and MgO based thin films which may be classified as Dilute Magnetic Semiconductors, DMS, and Dilute Magnetic Insulators, DMI, are now the materials of active interest in future Electronics involving components which exploit both charge and spin of electrons in the arena of SPINTRONICS. Extensive characterization of magnetic, electrical, optical properties and microscopic structure has ensured development of high quality magnetic materials for future applications. Further research on these promising materials is expected to yield new generation spintronic devices for better performance in terms of efficiency, energy consumption and miniaturization of sizes. / QC 20120511

In all energy systems, the parameters necessary to calculate power are the same in functionality: an effort or force needed to create a movement in an object and a flow or rate at which the object moves. Therefore, the power equation can generalized as a function of these two parameters: effort and flow, P = effort * flow. Analyzing various power transfer media this is true for at least three regimes: electrical, mechanical and hydraulic but not for magnetic. This implies that the conventional magnetic system model (the reluctance model) requires modifications in order to be consistent with other energy system models. Even further, performing a comprehensive comparison among the systems, each system's model includes an effort quantity, a flow quantity and three passive elements used to establish the amount of energy that is stored or dissipated as heat. After evaluating each one of them, it was clear that the conventional magnetic model did not follow the same pattern: the reluctance, as analogous to the electric resistance, should be a dissipative element instead it is an energy storage element. Furthermore, the two other elements are not defined. This difference has initiated a reevaluation of the conventional magnetic model. In this dissertation the fundamentals on electromagnetism and magnetic materials that supports the modifications proposed to the magnetic model are presented. Conceptual tests to a case study system were performed in order to figure out the network configuration that better represents its real behavior. Furthermore, analytical and numerical techniques were developed in MATLAB and Simulink in order to validate our model. Finally, the feasibility of a novel concept denominated magnetic transmission line was developed. This concept was introduced as an alternative to transmit power. In this case, the media of transport was a magnetic material. The richness of the power-invariant magnetic model and its similarities with the electric model enlighten us to apply concepts and calculation techniques new to the magnetic regime but common to the electric one, such as, net power, power factor, and efficiency, in order to evaluate the power transmission capabilities of a magnetic system. The fundamental contribution of this research is that it presents an alternative to model magnetic systems using a simpler, more physical approach. As the model is standard to other systems' models it allows the engineer or researcher to perform analogies among systems in order to gather insights and a clearer understanding of magnetic systems which up to now has been very complex and theoretical.

Artificial Magnetic Materials (AMMs) are a subgroup of metamaterials which are engineered to provide desirable magnetic properties not seen in natural materials. These artificial structures are designed to provide either negative or enhanced positive (higher than one) relative permeability. AMMs with negative permeability are used to develop Single Negative (SNG), or Double Negative (DNG) metamaterials. AMMs with enhanced positive permeability are used to provide magneto-dielectric materials at microwave frequencies where the natural magnetic materials fail to work efficiently. AMMs are realized by embedding metallic resonators in a host dielectric. These inclusions provide desirable magnetic properties near their resonance frequency. Artificial magnetic materials used as SNG, or DNG have many applications such as: sub-wavelength cavity resonators, sub-wavelength parallel-plate wave guides, sub-wavelength cylindrical and spherical core–shell systems, efficient electrically small dipole antennas, super lenses, THz active devices, sensitivity enhancement near-field probes using double and single negative media, and mutual coupling reduction between antennas. On the other hand, artificial magnetic materials used as magneto-dielectrics have other applications in developing enhanced bandwidth efficient miniaturized antennas, low profile enhanced gain antennas using artificial magnetic superstrates, wide band woodpile Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) structures, EBGs with enhanced in-phase reflection bandwidth used as artificial magnetic ground planes. In this thesis, several advances are added to the existing knowledge of developing artificial magnetic materials, in terms of analytical modeling, applications, realization, and experimental characterization. To realize AMMs with miniaturized unit cells, new inclusions based on fractal Hilbert curves are introduced, and analyzed. Analytical models, numerical full wave simulation, and experimental characterization are used to analyze, and study the new structures. A comprehensive comparison is made between the new inclusions, and perviously developed inclusions in terms of electromagnetic properties. The new inclusions have advantages of miniaturization, and less dispersion when compared to the existing structures in the literature. To realize multi-band AMMs, unit cells with multiple inclusions are proposed, designed, and analyzed. The new unit cells can be designed to give the desired magnetic properties either over distinguished multiple frequency bands, or over a single wide frequency band. Numerical full wave simulation is used to verify the proposed concept, and analytical models are provided for design, and optimization of the new unit cells. Unit cells with different configurations are optimized to get a wideband responce for the effective permeability. Space mapping technique is used to provide a link between analytically optimized structures, and full wave numerical simulation results. Two new methods are proposed for experimental characterization of artificial structures using microstrip, and strip line topologies. Using numerical results, the effect of anisotropy on the accuracy of the extracted parameters are investigated, and a fitting solution is proposed, and verified to address this challenge. New structures based on 2nd , and 3rd order fractal Hilbert curves are fabricated, and characterized using microstrip line, and strip line fixtures. Experimental results are presented, and compared with numerical results. The new experimental methods have advantages of lower cost, easier to fabricate and measure, and smaller sample size when compared to the existing methods in the literature. A new application is proposed for use of magnetic materials to develop wide band artificial magnetic conductors (AMC). Analytical models, and numerical analysis is used to validate the concept. A new ultra wideband AMC is designd, and analysed. The designed AMC is used as the ground plane to develop a low profile high gain ultra wide band antenna. The designed antenna is simulated, and its return loss, and gain is presented over a wide range of frequencies. A comprehensive study is presented on the performance of AMMs for the application of miniaturized antennas. A miniaturized antenna, using fractal Hilbert metamaterials as substrate, is fabricated, and measured. Measurement results are presented, and compared with numerical results. A parametric study is presented on the effect of the constitutive parameters of the artificial substrate on the performance of the miniaturized antenna. In this study, the effect of magnetic loss of AMM on the gain, and efficiency of the antenna, as well as the effect of dispersion of AMM on the bandwidth of the antenna is investigated.

Artificial Magnetic Materials (AMMs) are a subgroup of metamaterials which are engineered to provide desirable magnetic properties not seen in natural materials. These artificial structures are designed to provide either negative or enhanced positive (higher than one) relative permeability. AMMs with negative permeability are used to develop Single Negative (SNG), or Double Negative (DNG) metamaterials. AMMs with enhanced positive permeability are used to provide magneto-dielectric materials at microwave frequencies where the natural magnetic materials fail to work efficiently. AMMs are realized by embedding metallic resonators in a host dielectric. These inclusions provide desirable magnetic properties near their resonance frequency. Artificial magnetic materials used as SNG, or DNG have many applications such as: sub-wavelength cavity resonators, sub-wavelength parallel-plate wave guides, sub-wavelength cylindrical and spherical core–shell systems, efficient electrically small dipole antennas, super lenses, THz active devices, sensitivity enhancement near-field probes using double and single negative media, and mutual coupling reduction between antennas. On the other hand, artificial magnetic materials used as magneto-dielectrics have other applications in developing enhanced bandwidth efficient miniaturized antennas, low profile enhanced gain antennas using artificial magnetic superstrates, wide band woodpile Electromagnetic Band Gap (EBG) structures, EBGs with enhanced in-phase reflection bandwidth used as artificial magnetic ground planes. In this thesis, several advances are added to the existing knowledge of developing artificial magnetic materials, in terms of analytical modeling, applications, realization, and experimental characterization. To realize AMMs with miniaturized unit cells, new inclusions based on fractal Hilbert curves are introduced, and analyzed. Analytical models, numerical full wave simulation, and experimental characterization are used to analyze, and study the new structures. A comprehensive comparison is made between the new inclusions, and perviously developed inclusions in terms of electromagnetic properties. The new inclusions have advantages of miniaturization, and less dispersion when compared to the existing structures in the literature. To realize multi-band AMMs, unit cells with multiple inclusions are proposed, designed, and analyzed. The new unit cells can be designed to give the desired magnetic properties either over distinguished multiple frequency bands, or over a single wide frequency band. Numerical full wave simulation is used to verify the proposed concept, and analytical models are provided for design, and optimization of the new unit cells. Unit cells with different configurations are optimized to get a wideband responce for the effective permeability. Space mapping technique is used to provide a link between analytically optimized structures, and full wave numerical simulation results. Two new methods are proposed for experimental characterization of artificial structures using microstrip, and strip line topologies. Using numerical results, the effect of anisotropy on the accuracy of the extracted parameters are investigated, and a fitting solution is proposed, and verified to address this challenge. New structures based on 2nd , and 3rd order fractal Hilbert curves are fabricated, and characterized using microstrip line, and strip line fixtures. Experimental results are presented, and compared with numerical results. The new experimental methods have advantages of lower cost, easier to fabricate and measure, and smaller sample size when compared to the existing methods in the literature. A new application is proposed for use of magnetic materials to develop wide band artificial magnetic conductors (AMC). Analytical models, and numerical analysis is used to validate the concept. A new ultra wideband AMC is designd, and analysed. The designed AMC is used as the ground plane to develop a low profile high gain ultra wide band antenna. The designed antenna is simulated, and its return loss, and gain is presented over a wide range of frequencies. A comprehensive study is presented on the performance of AMMs for the application of miniaturized antennas. A miniaturized antenna, using fractal Hilbert metamaterials as substrate, is fabricated, and measured. Measurement results are presented, and compared with numerical results. A parametric study is presented on the effect of the constitutive parameters of the artificial substrate on the performance of the miniaturized antenna. In this study, the effect of magnetic loss of AMM on the gain, and efficiency of the antenna, as well as the effect of dispersion of AMM on the bandwidth of the antenna is investigated.

In this thesis, the commercial viability of the aminolytic synthesis method is explored through robustness, versatility, and waste reduction studies. We report the preparation of metal precursors and the development of a synthetic approach using an aminolytic reaction of metal carboxylates in oleylamine and non-coordinating solvent. Manganese doping in the cobalt ferrites allows for the investigation of the couplings. All the compositions in the series Co1-xMnxFe2O4, 0.0  x  1.0 were synthesized via the aminolytic reaction. The coercivity decreases with increasing Mn2+ concentration due to reducing of high magnetic anisotropy ion (Co2+) content. To our knowledge, this work is the first completed series of Co1-xMnxFe2O4. The method is used to synthesize manganese ferrites dope with chromium. This allows for the investigation of the effects of orbital momentum quantum coupling. All the compositions of MnFe2-xCrxO4, x= 0.0, 0.05, 0.13, 0.25, 0.43, 0.62, and 0.85, were synthesized via the In-situ aminolytic method. Chromium concentration weakens the couplings resulting in the decrease in overall magnetic moment. All by-products can be recycled for re-utilization. The "mother" solution can be used for multiple batches without treatment. Our trials have shown that the reaction could undergo ten reactions using the same solution without scarifying the quality or yield of the product. Finally, an environmental application is explored through the use of iron oxides. Samples of goethite, maghemite, magnetite, and hematite were synthesized and characterized. These nanoparticles were exposed to arsenic and chromium solutions to measure the percent uptake of contaminant by each phase. Adsorption isotherms were plotted to obtain Freundlich parameters. The adsorption constant (K) averages over a 400% increase on literature values. We synthesized hematite and maghemite core-shell particles and exposed them to arsenite and maghemite core-shell particles have the higher removal affinity due to their smaller size.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, 2004. Directed by Mark G. Allen. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 155-166).

This thesis documents the work and research effort on the design, fabrication and testing of a magnetocaloric MEMS microcooler, focusing on the testing of the microcooler at low magnetic fields. The phenomenon of magnetocaloric effect (MCE), or adiabatic temperature change, which is obtained by heating or cooling magnetic materials due to a varying magnetic field, can be exploited in the area of magnetic refrigeration as a reliable, energy-efficient cooling system. In particular, its applications are being explored primarily in cryogenic technologies as a viable process for the liquefaction of hydrogen. The challenge for magnetic refrigeration is that the necessary MCE is most easily achieved with high magnetic fields (5-6 Tesla) provided by superconducting magnets. However, a significant magnetocaloric effect can be exhibited at lower magnetic fields (1-2 Tesla) by carefully controlling initial temperature conditions as well as by selecting, preparing and synthesizing the optimal fabrication process of Silicon (Si) wafers. A microcooler was integrated based on previous works of others and tested. Finally, testing of the magnetocaloric effect was conducted and results analyzed. Experimental results in these domains demonstrate that magnetic refrigeration can be part of the best current cooling technology, without having to use volatile, environmentally hazardous fluids. The MEMS magnetocaloric refrigerator demonstrated a ~ -12°C change in the temperature of cooling fluid at a magnetic field of 1.2 T.

Magnetic Shape Memory Alloys (MSMAs) have the unique ability to change their shape within a magnetic field, or in the presence of stress and a change in temperature. MSMAs have been widely investigated in the past decade due to their ability to demonstrate large magnetic field induced strain and higher frequency response than conventional shape memory alloys (SMAs). NiMn-based alloys are the workhorse of metamagnetic shape memory alloys since they are able to exhibit magnetic field induced phase transformation. In these alloys, martensite and austenite phases have different magnetization behavior, such as the parent phase can be ferromagnetic and martensite phase can be weakly magnetic. The magnetization difference between the transforming phases creates Zeeman energy, which is the main source for magnetic field induced phase transformation, is unlimited with applied field and orientation independent. Thus, metamagnetic shape memory alloys can be employed in polycrystalline form and provide higher actuation stress than conventional MSMAs. High actuation stress levels and frequencies in metamagnetic shape memory alloys are promising for magnetic actuation applications. Effects of heat treatments and cooling rates on the transformation temperatures, magnetization response and shape memory behavior under compressive stress were explored in Ni45Mn36.5Co5In13.5 [100] oriented single crystalline alloys to obtain high transformation temperatures, large magnetization difference, and low hysteresis behavior. It was found that transformation temperatures increase with higher heat treatment temperatures and decrease drastically at lower cooling rates. Temperature hysteresis decreased with increasing heat treatment temperatures. It was revealed that transformation temperatures, hysteresis, and magnetization response can be tailored by heat treatments via modifying interatomic order. Magnetic and mechanical results of NiMn-based metamagnetic alloys in single and polycrystalline forms as functions of composition, stress, temperature and magnetic field (up to 9 Tesla) were revealed through thermal-cycling under stress and magnetic field; stress-cycling as functions of temperature and magnetic field; and magnetic-field-cycling under stress at several temperatures experiments. Single crystalline samples of NiMnCoIn showed recoverable strain of 1.5 % due to magnetic field induced reversible phase transformation under constant stress and strain of 3.7 % by magnetic field induced recovery after variant reorientation of martensite. The magnetic field effect on the superelasticity and shape memory effects were also explored in selected orientations of [100], [110] and [111]. Fe-based ferromagnetic shape memory alloys have received considerable attention due to their better workability, strength, and lower cost compared with commercial NiTi based SMAs. The shape memory properties of a ferrous single crystalline alloy, FeNiCoAlNb, were investigated along the [100] orientation by thermal cycling under constant stress and superelasticity tests in both tension and compression. Aging was used to form nano-size precipitates to demonstrate shape memory behavior and tailor the shape memory properties. It was found that after proper heat treatments, [001] oriented FeNiCoAlNb showed a compressive strain of 15%, low temperature dependent superelastic behavior, high compression-tension asymmetry, and high compressive strength (~3GPa). The orientation dependence of the mechanical properties of FeNiCoAlNb single crystals were investigated along the [100], [110], [012] and [113] orientations. In addition, martensite phase showed higher magnetization than austenite phase as opposed to NiMn-based metamagnetic shape memory alloys. This magnetization difference is promising because it can allow magnetic field induced forward transformation. Ferrous alloys have great potential for high strength, temperature independent, and large scale actuator applications.

The study of magnetic properties and structures of Zn and Cd substituted mixed ferrites has been carried out using Mossbauer spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction on powdered samples at about 300 K. Two series of mixed ferrites, (Cd, Zn)xCol-xFe2-xAlxO4 and (Cd, Zn)xCo0.9Fe1.7-xTi0.4O 4 (where 0≤ x≤1.0) were synthesized. In the former series the effect of simultaneous site dilution by Zn or Cd and Ai atoms on tetrahedral (A) and octahedral (B) sites is investigated and in the latter the effect of single site dilution by Zn or Cd is also studied. The Mossbauer spectra show that the compounds transform with increase in x from ordered to disordered magnetic states. Systematic decrease in the hyperfine fields indicating weakening of the magnetic coupling with an increase in x is observed. We report the presence of a cross over effect with respect to the hyperfine fields on A and B sites at low concentration of diamagnetic ions in the simultaneously diluted series. Both series of compounds show no significant changes in isomer shifts with x. Differences in the evolution of Fe atoms on A and B sites between Zn and Cd based compounds are observed. The results of our analysis show that Zn and Cd ions occupy both tetrahedral and octahedral sites. The spinel structure of the compounds studied in this work is confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The lattice parameters derived from XRD show systematic change with x consistent with Vergard's law. In Cd based samples an increase of the lattice parameter with x is explained on the basis of the size difference of the cations involved. However, an anomalous behavior of the lattice parameter is observed in Zn based samples. The average grain sizes of the samples were determined from the line width of the (311) XRD intensity lines using the Scherrer formula. These vary between 50 nm and 70 nm for all the samples except for Zn and Al substituted samples which show a systematic anomalous reduction for x ≥ 0.4 in grain size. The porosity, x-ray and bulk densities of the samples are also presented. / Thesis (M.Sc.)-University of Natal, Durban, 2002.