SPIN TEXTURES

Overview

We are interested in novel spin textures, especially those occurring in three-dimensional (3D) magnetic objects. Curvature, domain walls, 3D spin and space, topology are some of our daily words at work. We design and fabricate devices, image their spin textures and influence these with spin-polarized currents or externally applied magnetic fields. The applied background includes the proposed concept of 3D race-track memory. This research topic is driven in close collaboration with colleagues in the Theory group, PFNC at Minatec, Institut Néel, and expert chemist groups in Germany and Spain.

Research topics

Spin textures by models

We investigate the existence, energetics and dynamics of 3D spin textures under magnetic field and spin-polarized current by using and developing our home-made feeLLGood micromagnetic code, combined with analytical modeling.

Spin textures by experiments

From nanowires to multilayered nanotubes, we observe samples compliant for spintronic devices. Probing the strength of a spin texture’s topological protection against transformation or annihilation is a major goal. We also contribute to the development of 3D MRAM (MRAM team).

Material research

We design and synthesize samples to stabilize 3D spin textures using bottom-up chemical synthesis (anodization, electroplating, electroless deposition, atomic layer deposition). We further use lithography/FIB for electrical contacting and design specific sample supports for original in-situ experiments.

Magnetic imaging

Magnetic imaging of 3D spin textures requires high spatial resolution (nanoscale) as well as bulk/surface and multi-component sensitivity. We are developing expertise in electron-, X-ray & near-field probes, both in the lab and at external facilities, including development of instruments and image data treatment.

The team

Former members

Post-docs

Sylvain MARTIN (2016-2018)
Dhananjay TIWARO (2018-2021)
Jérôme HURST (2019-2021)

PhD

Mahdi JABER (2019-2023).
Laura ALVARO-GOMEZ (2019-2023). Co-tutella with IMDEA Madrid
Arnaud DE RIZ (2017-2021).
Michael SCHÖBITZ (2017-2021). Joint with Institut NEEL.
Michal STANO (2014-2017), Joint with Institut NEEL.
Beatrix TRAPP (2015-2018). Joint with Institut NEEL.
Alexis WARTELLE (2013-2017). Joint with Institut NEEL.

Internships

Michal DYMACEK (2023)
Natalia BOSCOLO (2022)
Sara BONET-GOMEZ (2021)
Ondrej NOVOTNY (2020)
Zied BELKHIRI (2020)
Hoel ROBERT (2018). Joint with INAC/MEM.

Projects

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

Partners

Institut NEEL, Grenoble, France.
PFNC @ Minatec, Grenoble, France.
J. Bachmann. Department of Chemistry, FAU Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
W. Ensinger. Materialanalytik – TU Darmstadt, Germany.
Microscopy group (I3EM), CEMES, Toulouse, France.
L. Perez, IMDEA, Madrid, Spain.
M. Vazquez, GNMP-CSIC, Madrid, Spain.
M. Foerster, L. Aballe, ALBA synchrotron, Barcelona, Spain.
S. Finizio, J. Raabe, SLS Synchrotron, Villigen, Switzerland.
R. Belkhou, SOLEIL Synchrotron, Orsay, France.
A. Lubk, D. Wolf, IFW, Dresden, Germany.
J. M. de Teresa, INA, Zaragoza, Spain.
A. Fernandez-Pacheco, The Cavendish Laboratory, Cambridge, UK.
C. Phatak, Argonne National Lab., Chicago, USA.

Recent news

Micromagnetics of chemical modulations in cylindrical nanowires (February 09th, 2023)
We combined chemical synthesis, magnetic microscopy and micromagnetic simulations to provide a comprehensive view of the micromagnetics of chemical modulations in cylindrical nanowires. This sets the ground for their use to investigate the specific aspects ...
Masters thesis projects for Spring 2023 (September 21st, 2022)
You find here the list of proposals for Master-2 internships to take place at Spintec during Spring 2023. In most cases, these internships are intended to be suitable for a longer-term PhD work. Interested Master-1 ...
Perpendicular-shape-anisotropy MRAM do not fear temperature (September 01st, 2022)
Perpendicular-shape-anisotropy magnetic random-access memory (PSA MRAM) has been proposed to maintain the thermal stability of solid-state magnetic bits down to a few nanometers in diameter. Here we confirm directly with high-spatial resolution and high-sensitivity electron ...
One year post-doctoral fellowship on domain walls and spin waves in core-shell magnetic nanowires (August 05th, 2022)
Context. 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 ...
PEPR SPIN – Priority Programs and Equipment for Exploratory Research (July 29th, 2022)
France is investing more than 38M€ in Spintronics thanks to the PEPR-SPIN exploratory program! SPIN is among the 13 new exploratory programs winners of the second wave of calls for projects Priority Programs and ...