Inicio 9 Research topics 9 Unconventional Spintronics: Spin-Orbit nanostructures for novel devices

RESEARCH PROGRAMMES

P4: Nanomagnetism and critical raw materials

P5: Solid state quantum devices for information

RESEARCH SUPERVISOR(S)

Dr. Paolo Perna
Research Group website: https://nanociencia.imdea.org/spinorbitronics/group-home

Dr. Mariela Menghini
Research Group website: https://sites.google.com/view/transportqm-imdeanano/

RESEARCH TOPIC DESCRIPTION

The transition towards a Green and Secure EU society requires the development of electronic devices more dense, fast and functioning at lower power than the actual semiconductor-based technologies. These prerequisites can be fulfilled in the next years by combining materials in low dimensional multi-layered structures that allow manipulating the magnetic and electronic interactions at play in the systems by acting with an electric field, enabling the realization of novel devices and unconventional computational schemes.

The research aims at tailoring the interfacial Spin Orbit driven magnetic interaction in Perpendicular Magnetic Anisotropy (PMA) systems with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya Interaction (DMI). Two examples that can enable the electrical control of the charge/spin transport and manipulation of (topologically protected) magnetic structures are Graphene (Gr)/Ferromagnetic (FM)/heavy-metal (HM) interfaces and superconducting (SC)/magnetic heterostructures.

These structures are promising for the realization of novel low power spintronic devices through the manipulation of chiral spin textures (magnetic domains and skyrmions), exploiting the polarization of a ferroelectric (FE) or supercurrent in SC.

These research topics are based on the results obtained in the FLAG-ERA SOgraphMEM project, coordinated by Prof. P. Perna at IMDEA, and the national project ECLIPSE-ECoSOx (PIs: Prof. Perna and Dr. Menghini) involving 7 and 5 top-level EU research institutions respectively.

POSITION DESCRIPTION

The candidate should have a PhD in Physics, Physical-Chemistry, Material Science or in a closely related field of science. An ideal candidate will have previous experience in: condensed matter physics, quantum transport, surface science, quantum materials and/or nanodevices. Practical skills on electrical and magnetic characterization, ultra-high vacuum techniques, nanofabrication processes will be an advantage for the development of the project. Open minded candidates with a strong publication record and a systematic research attitude are encouraged to apply. Furthermore, the ability to work on an interdisciplinary topic and international environment, analytical but creative thinking and effective communication skills are also of importance.

PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS

Within this project we foresee visits and/or secondments to institutions from the network of the involved research groups such as CNRS-Thales, NamLab-Dresden, FZJ-Julich, SPINTEC-Grenoble, Univ. Catholique of Louvaine, KU Leuven, Uni-Duisburg, as well as ALBA, SOLEIL, ESRF, BESSY and ELETTRA synchrotrons.

The project’s framework is ensured by the participation of the research groups in national and EU projects as EU FLAGERA SOgraphMEM (coordinated by Prof. Perna), national ECLIPSE-ECoSOx (PIs: Prof. Perna and Dr. Menghini) and regional NanoMagCOST-CM (PI: Prof. Perna) projects. Also, the hosting groups are active within the Spanish (SpinRed2), the EU (The Spintroinc Factory, Graphene Flagship) and EU-COST SUPERQUMAP networks.