SPIN TEXTURES

Overview

We are interested in novel spin textures, especially those occurring in three-dimensional magnetic objects such as nanowires, nanotubes and 3D MRAM. In these, specific effects are made possible by curvature, three-dimensional spin and space, and topology with azimuthal periodic boundary conditions. We design and fabricate devices, image the spin textures, and ultimately aim at addressing these with spin-polarized currents. The applied background includes the proposed concept of 3D race-track memory. This research topic is conducted in close collaboration with colleagues in the Theory group, with LEMMA laboratory at IRIG, with Institut Néel, and expert chemist groups in Germany.

Research topics

Physics of spin textures

bloch-point We aim at investigating the existence and dynamics of motion of 3D spin textures under magnetic field or spin-polarized current. While nanowires have been the initial focus, we are developing multilayered nanotubes for their higher versatility for spintronic purposes. Checking the strength of topological protection against their transformation or annihilation is a major goal. We also contribute to 3D MRAM development. We combine material synthesis, experimental investigations, and micromagnetic modelling.

Material development

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Special samples need to be designed and synthesized to stabilize 3D spin textures. They may be based on bottom-up chemical synthesis (anodization, electroplating, electroless deposition, atomic layer deposition) and/or lithography for electrical contacting.

Advanced magnetic imaging

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Magnetic imaging 3D spin textures is demanding in terms of spatial resolution, bulk/surface and multi-components sensitivity. We are developing expertise in various electron- and X-ray-based techniques, both in the lab and at external facilities.

The team

Projects

M3d, FP7 (2012-2016).
MILF, ANR (2019-2022).
C3DS, ANR-DFG (2019-2022).

Partners

Institut NEEL, Grenoble, France.
Prof. J. Bachmann. Department of Chemistry, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
Prof. W. Ensinger. Materialanalytik – Technische Universität Darmstadt, Germany.
C. Gatel, CEMES, Toulouse, France.
L. Perez, IMDEA, Madrid, Spain.
Prof. M. Vazquez, Group of Nanomagnetism and Magnetization Processes, CSIC-Madrid, Spain.
A. Lubk, D. Wolf, IFW Dresden, Germany.
J. M. de Teresa, Univ Zaragoza, Spain.
A. Fernandez-Pacheco, The Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, Cambridge, UK.

Recent news

Seminar – skyrmions in the Zero-Magnetisation Limit (March 26th, 2019)
On Friday April 5, we have the pleasure to welcome Laurent Ranno from Néel Institute, he will give us a talk at 14:30, CEA/SPINTEC, Bat 1005, room 434A entitled : Skyrmions in the Zero-Magnetisation Limit Skyrmions have ...
[POSITION FILLED] PhD position – Exploring the scalability of spintronics for 3D devices (March 17th, 2019)
Topic Classical microelectronics is reaching its limits of downward scalability, reaching technological or scientific bottlenecks. Magnetic random access memories, based on magnetic tunnel junctions storing and reading bits of information, are emerging key ICT components. They ...
Seminar – Skyrmions and antiskyrmions under spin-orbit torques: Effects of disorder, trochoidal motion, and skyrmiogenesis (January 21st, 2019)
On January 30, we have the pleasure to welcome Joo-Von Kim from Centre de Nanosciences et de Nanotechnologies, Université Paris-Saclay, 91120 Palaiseau, France. He will give us a seminar at 11:00, CEA/Spintec, Bat. 1005, room ...
Electroless plating to produce flux-closure nanotube for three-dimensional spintronics building blocks (December 18th, 2018)
The conceptual proposal for a so-called race-track three-dimensional data storage device based on domain walls in a dense array of vertical wires, revived the attention on cylindrical magnetic nanostructures. While mostly nanowires have been considered ...
[POSITION FILLED] 30 months post-doc position – Magnetic and electric characterization of core-shell nanotubes for 3D spintronics (December 14th, 2018)
Spintronics has become a mature technology for applications, such as magnetic field sensing and solid-state memories. However, existing concepts are almost exclusively based on planar processes such as thin film deposition and patterning. Extending spintronics ...