1. We discovered new ways to prepare an important magnetic material in thin film form and incorporate these in to prototype spin-electronics devices, and studied how this material behaves in a wide range of temperatures.   
2. We discovered that electrons can become polarized by reflecting off the surface of magnetic insulators.  This was demonstrated at room temperature using a magnetic structure known as a spin valve, and at very low temperatures using the interaction of electrons with superconductors.
3. A class of modern electronics device depends on quantum mechanical tunneling of electrons from one material to another.  We showed that implementing continuous and discrete tunnel barrier height distributions enables straightforward modeling of multiple phenomena of importance to realistic tunneling devices.
4. A subclass of tunneling devices is the spin filter tunnel barrier.  This type of barrier is magnetic, and allows spin polarized electronic current to be generated using non magnetic materials.  Our modeling showed how interface roughness and material thicknesses are critical to spin filter materials.  Tunneling usually requires thin barriers, but our work shows that spin filtering effects may not be seen using ultra thin barriers.  This work may lead to the discovery of more materials that can serve as spin filters.
5. A novel spin electronic phenomenon known as spin transfer torque enables one magnetic material to have its magnetization reversed by the flow of a current. In the context of such spin torque devices, we showed that adding nitrogen to copper may be a useful way to improve threshold currents, power requirements, and device reliability.
6. A class of high frequency magnetic sensors is based on the magnetoimpedance effect.  We showed that interface engineering can improve such sensors.  A US Patent application resulted from this work.
7. Collaborations leveraged to support this project included partners from: the University of Texas at Austin, Miami University in Ohio, Argonne National Laboratory, and the Naval Research Laboratory.
8. We developed a literature searching learning module designed to help young scientists learn most efficiently how to find quality scientific articles.  This work has been incorporated into undergraduate and graduate programs across the USA, and has even been used in Europe.
9. This work supported in part or in whole the education through research of four graduate students (one African American, one female), six undergraduates (one undergraduate Hispanic female, one undergraduate Hispanic male), and two high school students (admitted to U. Washington and U. Maryland).  
10. Outreach efforts included laboratory tours to middle and high school students, as well as community college students.

Last Modified: 10/22/2012
Modified by: Casey W Miller