Magnetic Properties in Nanostructures

Abstract

Magnetism plays an important role in our daily lives, for example computer hard disks, Mp3, credit cards, electric motors, diagnostic machines used in hospitals, speakers, etc., are devices which use magnetism for their performance. The widespread use of magnetic materials in technology is due to their different behaviors that appear in different chemical compositions, different geometries and different sizes. In fact, the magnetic properties of materials in nanometric sizes may be completely different from those of macroscopic materials, especially due to the confining effects. The study of this behavior is known as nanomagnetism and has a great potential to improve existing technology such as magnetic recording media, magnetic reading and writing devices, magnetic sensors, and applications in biomedicine, among others. This report presents a brief introduction to nanomagnetism, emphasizing the different magnetic properties found in nanostructures and their relevance in the technology.