Prof. Caroline A Ross

Ford Foundation Professor of Engineering
Interim Department Head / Materials Science and Engineering

Primary DLC

Department of Materials Science and Engineering

MIT Room: 13-4005

Assistant

Sarah Ciriello
sciri@mit.edu

Areas of Interest and Expertise

Magnetic Properties of Films Made by Sputtering and Electrodeposition
Magnetic Anisotropy in Films
Microstructural Control of Thin Films
Properties of Arrays of Magnetic Particles Formed Lithographically
Time-Dependent Magnetic Properties of Flims and Particle Arrays
Materials and Processes for High Density Magnetic Recording Devices
Mechanical Properties and Stress in Thin Films
Magnetoresistive Sensors
Physical Vapor Deposition
Magnetic Thin Films and Data Storage
Nanomagnets
Magnetic Random Access Memories (MRAMs)
Surfaces, Interfaces, and Thin Films

Research Summary

Professor Ross' research is directed towards the magnetic properties of thin films and small structures, particularly for data storage applications, and towards methods for creating nanoscale structures based on self-assembly and lithography. Current research on magnetic materials includes the synthesis and characterization of arrays of small magnetic 'dots' for patterned recording media, magnetoresistive ring-shaped multilayer thin-film elements for magnetic random access memories and magnetic logic devices, and magnetooptical materials for optical integrated circuits. They also study the self-assembly of block copolymers, porous alumina, and island formation in films, and develop methods for templating self-assembly in order to form well-organized structures useful in nanoscale devices. They maintain a Thin Film Laboratory which includes a pulsed laser deposition system and an ultra-high vacuum sputter system, in addition to a range of magnetic, magnetooptical, and magnetoelectronic characterization equipment.

Recent Work