526. WE-Heraeus-Seminar: Functional Magnetic Nanomembranes

The 526. WE-Heraeus-Seminar on Functional Magnetic Nanomembranes took place in Physikzentrum Bad Honnef from 04. until 06. of March 2013.

The main goal of the seminar was to create a solid international community working on the newly introduced topic of magnetic nanomembranes. These curved magnetic thin films are in the heart of the shapeable magnetic sensorics. The unique feature of these functional devices, which distinguishes them from conventional rigid magnetic sensor elements, is the possibility to be reshaped on demand after fabrication resulting in extended application possibilities. Optimizing the performance of shapeable magnetoelectronics fully relies on the understanding of the fundamental aspects behind the modifications of magnetic and electronic responses of curved nanomembranes in applied fields.

This goal was successfully fulfilled as the Seminar collected 55 participants from 8 countries (Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Ukraine, Chile, Korea, Taiwan) including 18 invited speakers, 9 contributed talks and 17 poster presentations. Furthermore, the Seminar contained the introductory talk as well as two evening talks on general aspects of micro- and quantum magnetism and its applications. According to the feedback from the participants, these talks were very important to bring the listeners to the level needed to participate efficiently in the discussions. It is important to emphasize active participation of the young scientists in the Seminar with contributed talks, poster presentations and post-presentation discussions.

Topic-wise the Seminar was split into three major parts: (i) theoretical and experimental aspects of micromagnetism in curved geometries, (ii) quantum geometrical effects emergent in curved nanomembranes, and (iii) application-relevant aspects of magnetic nanomembranes covering shapeable (stretchable, flexible and printable) magnetic field sensors as well as novel efficient detectors for biology and medicine.

In this respect, the Seminar combined experts from different communities: quantum physics, material science, magnetism, electronics, sensorics and biology. This non-conventional format of the Seminar appeared to be very successful and achieved positive feedback from the participants. Indeed, presence of participants with different scientific background resulted in the initiation of interdisciplinary discussions which are well beyond topics usually covered in the events targeting single community.

As the outcome of the Seminar, it is important to mention two aspects: The first one is the granted possibility to submit a topical issue on the "Functional Magnetic Nanomembranes" to the journal SPIN. The issue is planned for the end of the 2013 and will contain the compilation of works presented during the Seminar. The second aspect is willingness of the participants to arrange the Seminar on the similar topic again in the end of 2014 - beginning of 2015 to strengthen the initiated collaborations and develop the field of magnetism in curved surfaces even further.

The scientific organizers would like to thank Wilhelm und Else Heraeus Stiftung for their support in preparation of the Seminar.

Prof. Dr. Russell Cowburn (University of Cambridge, UK)

Prof. Dr. Mathias Klui (University of Mainz)

Prof. Dr. Jeroen van den Brink (IFW Dresden)

Prof. Dr. Ching-Ray Chang (National Taiwan University, Taiwan)

Prof. Dr. Andreas Htten (University of Bielefeld)

Dr. Riccardo Hertel (University of Strasbourg, France)

Dr. Salim-Mourad Chrif (University of Paris 13, France)

Dr. Jehyun Lee (Seoul University, Korea)

Dr. Christian Mller (Universidade Federal do Parana, Curitiba, Brazil)

Dr. Volodymyr Kravchuk (Institute of Theoretical Physics, Kyiv, Ukraine)

Dr. Stefan Mendach (University of Hamburg)

Dr. Pedro Landeros (Uni Tcnica Federico Santa Mara, Chile)

Dr. Andrea Bertoni (Istituto Nazionale per la Fisica della Materia, Modena)

Dr. Denys D. Sheka (National Taras Shevchenko University, Kyiv, Ukraine)

Dr. Mario Cuoco (CNR-Spin Salerno, Italy)

Dr. Olena Vedmedenko (University of Hamburg)

Mr. Michael Melzer (IFW Dresden)

Mr. Gungun Lin (IFW Dresden)