Hormone replacement therapy

Martha Hickey, Jane Elliott, Sonia Louise Daviso

Spin-transfer switching and low-field precession in exchange-biased spin valve nano-pillars

Using a three-dimensional focused-ion beam lithography process we have fabricated nanopillar devices which show spin transfer torque switching at zero external magnetic fields. Under a small in-plane external bias field, a field-dependent peak in the differential resistance versus current is observed similar to that reported in asymmetrical nanopillar devices. This is interpreted as evidence for the low-field excitation of spin waves which in our case is attributed to a spin-scattering asymmetry enhanced by the IrMn exchange bias layer coupled to a relatively thin CoFe fixed layer.Comment: 11 pages, 4 figures. To appear in APL, April 200

Effects of impurity atoms on sputtered GMR multilayers

We have investigated the effects of residual gas impurity atoms on interlayer exchange coupling and giant magnetoresistance (GMR) in Co(9Ä)/Cu(9Ä) multilayers. Structural analysis was performed by Co(59) NMR. We deposited sub-monolayer quantities of residual gases at different points in the Co/Cu bilayer; the interfaces, or the middle of the Cu spacers or CO magnetic layers. Impurities at the interface lower the GMR and increase remenant fraction and saturation field. We are able to model these results phenomenologically by adding biquadratic coupling. Impurities in the bulk of the Cu layers lower GMR still further, and such samples are well described by models containing almost 100% biquadratic coupling. We have demonstrated that the ttansport parameters in our samples are largely unaffected by small quantities of impurities, but that the interlayer coupling is extremely sensitive to them, particularly in the bulk of the Cu spacer layers

International Partnerships: A Model for Educational Organizations

Opportunities exist for faculty and students within educational leadership preparation programs to participate in international initiatives within developing countries. One way to do this is through collaboration with organizations that already have an established presence in the country. Working within these organizations provides opportunities for learning and research for the educational leadership program. If done well, such work also helps host organizations meet their mission and goals. An understanding of effective behaviors in international partnerships may benefit educational leadership programs that develop these types of service opportunities. The behaviors mirror the scholar-practitioner philosophy, of which some prominent educational leadership programs adhere, through addressing pragmatic needs within a local context