Objective The aim of this theory proposal is to develop the research field of spintronics in three new directions - i) antiferromagnetic metals, ii) helimagnets, and iii) ultracold quantum gases - unified by the fact that it is a priori clear that new concepts have to be developed in understanding their spintronics phenomena. The central scientific challenge is understanding transport of a nonconserved quantity, i.e. spin, and its nonconserved current, i.e. the spin current. The proposal capitalizes in part on the PI’s experience with both spintronics and cold atoms to cross-fertilize these sub-disciplines of condensed-matter physics. i) The first focus of the proposal, motivated by experimental follow-ups of the PI’s pioneering theory work, is to theoretically study current-driven magnetization dynamics in antiferromagnetic metals. These materials are very promising for applications in ultrahigh-density information storage technology. ii) The second focus is to study the influence of current on the magnetic state of a helimagnet. The dynamics of the magnetization spiral in a helimagnet can be viewed as motion of a series of domain walls. In addition to its intrinsic fundamental interest this study will therefore shed light on the ongoing issues in current-driven domain wall motion, such as intrinsic versus extrinsic pinning of domains, and the role of intrinsic spin-orbit coupling. iii) The third and last focus of the proposal is to study analogues of spintronics phenomena with cold atoms, exploiting the well-understood microscopic description of these systems to quantum engineer model systems for spintronics, as well as their possibilities to go beyond conventional electronic condensed-matter physics. In particular the prospect for spin currents to be carried by bosonic particles opens up new research directions. This study develops new trends in spin-dependent transport phenomena and current-induced order-parameter dynamics. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsspintronicsnatural sciencesphysical sciencescondensed matter physicsquantum gases Keywords Bose-Einstein condensation antiferromagnetism helimagnet spintronics Programme(s) FP7-IDEAS-ERC - Specific programme: "Ideas" implementing the Seventh Framework Programme of the European Community for research, technological development and demonstration activities (2007 to 2013) Topic(s) ERC-SG-PE3 - ERC Starting Grant - Condensed matter physics Call for proposal ERC-2007-StG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-SG - ERC Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT EU contribution € 876 000,00 Address HEIDELBERGLAAN 8 3584 CS Utrecht Netherlands See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Pieter Thijssen (Mr.) Principal investigator Rembertus Abraham Duine (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by EU Contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT Netherlands EU contribution € 876 000,00 Address HEIDELBERGLAAN 8 3584 CS Utrecht See on map Region West-Nederland Utrecht Utrecht Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Administrative Contact Pieter Thijssen (Mr.) Principal investigator Rembertus Abraham Duine (Dr.) Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Total cost No data
