Abstract: The use of ferrimagnetic materials is proposed for use in magnetic devices. Such magnetic devices include magnetic tunnel junctions (MTJ) which have at least two magnetic layers separated by an insulating barrier layer, wherein at least one of the two magnetic layers is ferrimagnetic. Such MTJ's are used in MRAM (magnetic random access memory) structures. Where the magnetic device is a magnetic sensor, it preferably includes a layer that comprises a ferrimagnetic material separated from another magnetic layer by a barrier layer and the magnetizations of the magnetic layer are oriented at an angle to one another.

Abstract: Magnetic thin film structures are disclosed including a laminate of a layer of nonmagnetic material sandwiched between first and second layers of magnetic material and at least one edge closure layer of magnetic material disposed on a side edge of the laminate with the edge closure layer being in magnetic contact with the first and second layers of magnetic material. The edge closure layer eliminates magnetic edge closure domains and magnetic edge-curling walls in the yoke and poletip regions, or in a fluxguide of a magnetic recording head to substantially eliminate Barkhausen noise and wall network instabilities. Multiple layer laminates are also disclosed having a plurality of nonmagnetic layers each of which are sandwiched between layers of magnetic material and wherein the laminate includes edge closure layers that contact all the magnetic layers. Several methods are disclosed for fabricating the laminate.

Abstract: Magnetic thin film structures including a laminate of a layer of nonmagnetic material sandwiched between first and second layers of magnetic material and at least one edge closure layer of magnetic material disposed on a side edge of the laminate with the edge closure layer being in magnetic contact with the first and second layers of magnetic material. The edge closure layer eliminates magnetic edge closure domains and magnetic edge-curling walls in the yoke and poletip regions, or in a fluxguide of a magnetic recording head to substantially eliminate Barkhausen noise and wall network instabilities. Multiple layer laminates are also disclosed having a plurality of nonmagnetic layers each of which are sandwiched between layers of magnetic material and wherein the laminate includes edge closure layers that contact all the magnetic layers. Several methods are disclosed for fabricating the laminate. In one class of technique, the side edges are deposited together with a top layer in a single plating operation.

Abstract: Methods are described for producing a needle probe tip having prescribed magnetic properties for a scanning magnetic force microscope (MFM) on a substrate positioned in an evacuated environment. A substantially rigid, nanometer-scale needle-like structure is produced by selective decomposition of a volatile organic compound by a highly focussed electron beam. Processing steps are described to obtain prescribed magnetic properties of such a needle probe structure; in particular, the fabrication of a single magnetic domain, with hard or soft magnetic properties at the distal end of the needle structure. Three dimensional probe tips are also achieved. These magnetic sensing probes allow magnetic imaging at the nanometer-scale level.

Abstract: Magnetic thin film structures are disclosed including a laminate of a layer of nonmagnetic material sandwiched between first and second layers of magnetic material and at least one edge closure layer of magnetic material disposed on a side edge of the laminate with the edge closure layer being in magnetic contact with the first and second layers of magnetic material. The edge closure layer eliminates magnetic edge closure domains and magnetic edge-curling walls in the yoke and poletip regions, or in a fluxguide of a magnetic recording head to substantially eliminate Barkhausen noise and wall network instabilities. Multiple layer laminates are also disclosed having a plurality of nonmagnetic layers each of which are sandwiched between layers of magnetic material and wherein the laminate includes edge closure layers that contact all the magnetic layers. Several methods are disclosed for fabricating the laminate.

Abstract: A silicon body has an array of nozzles therein and a separate magnet for each nozzle integral with the body. The magnet is disposed adjacent the nozzle with which it cooperates so that it can apply a deflection, prior to break-up of the stream exiting from the nozzle into droplets, to selected portions of the stream. The droplets, which are formed from the selected portions having the magnetic deflection applied thereto from the magnet cooperating with the nozzle, deflect to a gutter and are not applied to a recording surface, which moves orthogonal to the nozzles. If desired, the winding of the magnet can have a second excitation frequency supplied thereto to break up the stream into droplets. The break-up of the stream into droplets also can be accomplished by vibrations produced by a piezoelectric transducer, for example.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided using as an integral portion thereof a confined array (such as a lattice) of interactive elements, the interactions among which are largely determinative of the positions of the interactive elements since there is a minimum of position determining structure for the elements within the area of confinement. Magnetic elements are suitable interactive elements, and in particular embodiments are shown using magnetic bubble domains. Structure is provided to form lattice arrays of interactive elements, to confine the lattice arrays, and to access elements outside and within the lattice array. In addition, various structures are provided to code the interactive elements for storage of information, and reading devices are provided to detect the information state of the interactive elements when these elements are coded. Various types of lattices and interactive elements can be used.