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
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
- Room-Temperature Skyrmions at Zero Field in Exchange-Biased Ultrathin Films (July 17th, 2020)
Magnetic skyrmions are topologically protected spin textures of great interest for nanoscale information storage and processing. However, stabilizing small skyrmions without applying an external magnetic field remains challenging. This study employs a thin ferromagnetic layer ... - Spin-orbitronics at a topological insulator-semiconductor interface (July 02nd, 2020)
Topological insulators (TI) represent a new class of insulating materials hosting metallic surface states. Moreover, those surface states exhibit a Dirac cone energy dispersion where the strong spin-orbit coupling leads to a helical spin texture ... - Topology and Œrsted field prevent Walker breakdown in cylindrical nanowires (December 06th, 2019)
Domain-wall motion in one-dimensional conduits is both a textbook case for magnetization dynamics and the understanding of spin torques, and of practical importance for the design of novel spintronic ICT devices. However, instabilities known as ... - Seminar – Reservoir Computing with Random Magnetic Textures (November 13th, 2019)
On November 20th at 11:00, we have the pleasure to welcome Daniele Pinna from Johannes Gutenberg University. He will give us a seminar at CEA/SPINTEC (*) Bat 1005, room 445, entitled : Reservoir Computing with Random ... - Seminar – Chirality in thin films and multilayers probed by Soft x-ray (coherent) scattering (November 06th, 2019)
On December 2th at 11:00, we have the pleasure to welcome Nicolas Jaouen from SEXTANTS beamline, Synchrotron SOLEIL. He will give us a seminar at CEA/SPINTEC (*) Bat 1005, room 445, entitled : Chirality in thin ...
Publications