From Deseret News archives:
German, Frenchman share 2007 Nobel Prize in physics for discovery used in hard disks
France's Albert Fert and German Peter Gruenberg independently discovered a physical effect in 1988 has led to sensitive tools for reading the information stored on hard disks. That sensitivity lets the electronics industry use smaller and smaller disks.
"The MP3 and iPod industry would not have existed without this discovery," Borje Johansson, a member of the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences told The Associated Press. "You would not have an iPod without this effect."
The two scientists discovered a phenomenon called giant magnetoresistance. In this effect, very weak changes in magnetism generate larger changes in electrical resistance. This is how information stored magnetically on a hard disk can be converted to electrical signals that the computer reads.
Smaller disks mean fainter magnetic signals, so the ability to detect them is key to shrinking hard disks.
The first disk-reading device based on the effect was launched in 1997 "and this soon became the standard technology," the Nobel committee said.
"I can hardly think of an application that has a bigger bang than the magnetic hard drive industry. Every one of us probably owns three or four or five devices, probably more, that depend on billions of bits of information stored on something the size of a dime."
Fert, 69, is the scientific director of the Mixed Unit for Physics at CNRS/Thales in Orsay, France, while Gruenberg, 68, is a professor at the Institute of Solid State Research in western Germany.
In a telephone conference with the award committee, Fert said he was very happy to win, and to share the $1.5 million prize with Gruenberg.
"This is a surprise for me but I knew that it was possible," he said. "I knew I was among the many candidates."
A former rugby player and now avid sailboarder, Fert told France's Inter Radio that he planned to share some of the spoils of his winnings with colleagues.
"As usual when I get prizes, I share a little with my associates and then I will see," he said. "I don't know. I think I need new sails for my windsurfers."
Comments
- Germany celebrates Wall falling 3:53 p.m.
- Iraq electoral law passes 3:39 p.m.
- Memorial at site of Cleveland killings 3:35 p.m.
- Chavez to troops: Prepare for war 3:34 p.m.
- Suspect in Vail shooting faces charge 3:31 p.m.
- TCU moves into 4th place in BCS 3:16 p.m.
- Alcohol suspected in Roy shooting 2:36 p.m.
- Chaplain seeks prayers for meaning 2:36 p.m.
- La. Gov. declares state of emergency 2:34 p.m.
- 'SuperFreakonomics' just as fun 1:42 p.m.
- Gay advocates trek to LDS office
213 - Dirk does dirty work in Dallas
190 - House passes health care bill
186 - Lobo suspended
173 - Cougars crush hapless Cowboys
147 - Speed has never been BYU's game
136 - Utah Jazz fall apart against Kings
112 - RSL rallies to advance
103 - Thousands protest health bill
102 - Provo company innovating engines
98
Why do so many people live so close to refineries in Utah and elsewhere?
Climate scientists hurt their own credibility when they dismiss or downplay...
but, there's a 100% chance you don't know what you're talking about if...
Different year, same result! South Sevier you wanted it so badly to be your...
You are right on one thing, PG is amazing and played amazing last night....
What maybe one more year for Graft? Please make Alaina Parker the head...
Size Centers =3 Agility Centers =4 Boozer = size of power forward but...
Congrats, want a medal or something? I also called the 1968 world series...
BYU does well with extra time to prepare and mediocre, average...
for definition of clueless, see mirror "if TCU were to play Florida or...
If you dont like the officiating, and you think there needs to be new...


You can be the first to comment on this story.