This project will focus on the investigation of new magnetic oxides with low-dimensional structure, and on understanding the interrelationships among structure, composition and magnetic behavior. In addition, the synthetic methodology for preparing incommensurate composite structures will be developed, and the nature of structural disorder and how it affects magnetic behavior will be investigated systematically to understand the interconnectedness between magnetic properties of commensurate and incommensurate structures. The growth of both commensurate and incommensurate single crystal phases will allow the collection of magnetic data on crystallographically oriented materials. %%% Studying the magnetic properties of solids, especially oxides, provide an opportunity to develop the first generation of "spin" electronics involving new materials which have the potential to rival current transistor-based materials. These novel materials are strongly influencing new directions being taken in other areas of condensed matter sciences.
