Spintec invites application for a phd thesis position in spintronics on magnetic skyrmions. Magnetic skyrmions are nm scale topological spin texture that hold great promise for storing and manipulating the information at the nanoscale. Spintec recently demonstrated magnetic skyrmions at room temperature in ultrathin nanostructures [1] as well as their manipulation using electric field [2,3] and light [4] which is a first step toward the practical realization of skyrmion logic and memory devices. The aim of the phd thesis will be to study the manipulation of skyrmions by current and electric field in specifically designed materials in view of memory and logic applications. The phd thesis tasks will include the sample preparation (sputter deposition, material characterization, nanofabrication), the magnetic microscopy experiments and the modelling using analytical model and micromagnetic simulations. Magnetic microscopy experiments based on X-rays, STXM or XMCD-PEEM is planned in different European synchrotrons.
This position is part of a larger project with the aim of pushing forward fundamental knowledge on magnetic skyrmions in view of technological applications for memory and
logics. Applicants should hold a master in solid state physics, nanophysics or related discipline. There is currently no dedicated funding to this position. However, results of
applications to several funding agencies are pending and the applicant will also be supported for applications to different scholarships.
Applicants shall send a CV and a letter of motivation to Olivier Boulle, olivier.boulle@cea.fr.
[1] O. Boulle et al., Nat. Nanotechnology 11, 449 (2016).
[2] T. Srivastava et al., Nano Lett. (2018).
[3] M. Schott et al., Nano Lett. 17, 3006 (2017).
[4] S.-G. Je et al., Nano Lett. (2018).