Fundamental Aspects of Thin Film Magnetism

Magnetism has been in the past a driving force behind many important discoveries in physics. For instance, it is in trying to understand the magnetic phase transition that K. Wilson was led to (re)discover the renormalization group, one of the most brilliant performances in the history of physics. Most recently, a new class of magnetic materials is again generating new science and new technology: epitaxial thin films and multilayers. Because of a concentrated effort on the part of academia and industry, this field of physics has produced a wealth of new and exciting discoveries, which are changing our way of thinking about physics. Thin film magnetism is for example establishing a new understanding of two-dimensional physics. Multilayers are bringing new insights into fundamental interaction, the exchange interaction. New possibilities for magnetic recording have been opened by the discovery of perpendicularly magnetized thin films and the giant magnetoresistance in multilayers. The intent of this book is to put emphasis on the fundamental aspects of the subject, such aspects which have gained a wide acceptance and as such have become timeless. While presenting advanced research, this work should be understood by experimental physicists as well as theoreticians.