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We have compared the multiferroic behavior in different-sized BiFeO nanoparticles (11-29 nm) prepared by a solution evaporation method. The effects of oxygen vacancies on the behavior of phase pure BiFeO have been studied for particles prepared under two different annealing environments, air and oxygen. We find that BiFeO nanoparticles show weak ferromagnetism at room temperature which increases with decreasing particle size. However, the effects are determined not to be related to the presence of more oxygen vacancies, since oxygen annealing increases the magnetic moment in this system. In dielectric studies, we observe clear evidence for magnetoelectric coupling with the imaginary part of dielectric constant exhibiting a clear anomaly around the magnetic transition temperature ( T ~ 560 K). In high temperature resistivity measurements insulating and activated resistivity behavior is observed with the activation energies being lower for T < T. The increased ferromagnetism in smaller particles is explained in terms of suppression of the antiferromagnetic spin spiral whereas oxygen annealing actually leads in our case to an improvement of the crystallinity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) is developing high-tolerance, radiation-hardened electronics for missions in and beyond Low Earth orbit. Ferroelectric-based electronics are highly viable candidates for these electronics because of their inherent radiation-hardened property. Since standard memory devices are prone to damage caused by radiation, ferroelectric memory may provide the needed radiation-tolerance. To test the effectiveness of ferroelectric random access memory (FRAM) in Low Earth orbit, a 512 K Ramtron FRAM will be flown on a Low Earth orbit satellite that will be launched by NASA. This paper discusses the advantages of ferroelectric electronics and outlines the Low Earth orbit ferroelectric memory test experiment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The US Army Workshop on “Advanced Active Thin Films for the Next Generation of Meso-Micro Scale Army Applications” was held at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort in Destin FL May 10–12 2005. This workshop was dedicated to the memory of Dr. Bruce Fink of the U.S. Army Research Laboratory. Dr. Fink was a strong leader, a visionary, and a proponent of novel research that supported the survivability of the soldier in the field. Dr. Fink's selfless attitude, encouragement, and unconditional support for the solider provided the motivation for organizing this topical workshop on “Advanced Active Thin Films for the Next Generation of Meso-Micro Scale Army Applications”. This workshop consisted of 35 invited oral presentations, spread over a three day duration. Each presentation was focused on a particular aspect, issue, or research facet associated with the current state-of-the-art and/or future thrust areas for active thin films technology. Approximately 120 scientists, engineers and technology applications specialists attended and participated in this workshop and this journal volume, Integrated ferroelectrics, serves to disseminate the science and engineering brought fourth in this workshop. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Editorial. Introduces the Proceedings of the Tenth European Meeting on Ferroelectrics (EMF-10) held at the University of Cambridge in Massachusetts from August 3-8, 2003. Division of the EMF-10 Proceedings into two parts; Difference of the conference from its predecessors; Venue of EMF-11.

The 15th International Symposium on Integrated Ferroelectrics was held at the Historic Broadmoor Hotel in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from March 9, 2003 to March 12, 2003. There were 354 attendees, including 321 researchers and engineers from all over the world who presented their work either in the form of oral presentations or poster presentations. The symposium got under way with four tutorials covering various topics related to ferroelectric thin film materials. The first two tutorials were oriented towards introducing the materials science and engineering of ferroelectric thin films.

Reports that the University of California, San Diego, has established an endowed chair in physics to honor the late Bernd T. Matthias, the discoverer of thousands of ferroelectric, ferromagnetic and superconducting materials.