COMBINING NANOMECHANICS AND MAGNETOELECTRICS IN DISCONTINUOUS FERROMAGNETIC FILMS

We present transport measurements performed on systems of granular ferromagnets (Ni). The samples are prepared by quench condensation, i.e., evaporation of discontinuous films on a substrate held at cryogenic temperatures within the measurement apparatus. This technique enables us to study the magnetotransport properties of unique geometries such as dilute granular films, 1D chains of grains and tunnel junction into a granular system with extremely sensitive control over the grain distance. The granular structures exhibit a unique response of the electric properties to magnetic field which is ascribed to mechanical changes of the grain geometries due to magnetic interactions. We discuss the merits of this phenomenon and suggest that it has potential for future magnetomechanical-based devices.