Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 20, 2026

Optimizing Magnetic Force Microscopy Resolution and Sensitivity to Visualize Nanoscale Magnetic Domains
Published on: July 20, 2022
Ge(1-x) Mn(x) clusters: central structural and magnetic building blocks of nanoscale wire-like self-assembly in a
D Bougeard1, N Sircar, S Ahlers
1Walter Schottky Institut, Technische Universitat Munchen, Am Coulombwall 3, D-85748 Garching, Germany. bougeard@wsi.tum.de
Abstract:
Controlled nanoscale self-assembly of magnetic entities in semiconductors opens novel perspectives for the tailoring of magnetic semiconductor films and nanostructures with room temperature functionality. We report that a strongly directional self-assembly in growth direction in Mn-alloyed Ge is due to a stacking of individual Ge(1-x)Mn(x) clusters. The clusters represent the relevant entities for the magnetization of the material. They are formed of a core-shell structure displaying a Mn concentration gradient. While the magnetic moments seem to be carried by the shells of the clusters, their core is magnetically inactive.
Related Concept Videos
Ferromagnetism
Valence Bond Theory
Colors and Magnetism
When atoms or molecules absorb light at the proper frequency, their electrons are excited to higher-energy orbitals. For many main group atoms and molecules, the absorbed photons are in the ultraviolet range of the electromagnetic spectrum, which cannot be detected by the human eye. For coordination compounds, the energy difference between the d orbitals often allows photons in the visible range to be absorbed and emitted, which is seen as colors by the human eye.
Atomic Nuclei: Nuclear Magnetic Moment
Diamagnetism
Diamagnetism was discovered by Anton Brugmans in 1778 when he observed that bismuth gets repelled by magnetic fields, thus theorizing that diamagnets get repelled by magnets.
Paramagnetism

