Project description
Enhanced control of magnetisation via magneto-acoustic spintronic devices
All elementary particles have an intrinsic spin associated with them. When it comes to electrons, the electron spinning around its axis is associated with a tiny magnetic dipole. Spintronics devices harness this quantum phenomenon for information storage and processing. Controlling the spin is conventionally accomplished with applied magnetic or electric fields but the techniques are facing barriers to more efficient control. The pioneering EU-funded MAWiCS project will use acoustics to overcome these obstacles, achieving highly efficient control of spin dynamics through magneto-acoustic manipulation of magnetisation in complex spin systems. Outcomes will not only enhance performance but open the door to novel functionalities via magneto-acoustic spintronic devices.
Objective
Spintronic devices perform information storage and processing based on the spin degree of freedom. Materials with complex magnetic order, such as ferrimagnets, antiferromagnets and chiral magnets are promising candidates for next-generation spintronic devices with ultrafast speed, enhanced robustness and unique functionalities. However, several fundamental obstacles prevent their efficient control with established approaches based on magnetic fields and electrical currents.
MAWiCS will overcome these obstacles by introducing the magneto-acoustic control of magnetization in these complex spin systems. The advantage of MAWiCS’ approach is based on the following hypotheses: Microwave frequency phonons can excite and control antiferromagnetic spin waves and magnetic skyrmions lattices with high efficiency. The uniaxial magnetic anisotropy induced by magneto-acoustic interactions can be used for full modulation of antiferromagnetic resonance frequencies. Magneto-acoustic waves can propagate in topologically protected skyrmion lattice edge-states with reduced magnetic damping.
MAWiCS will develop innovative experimental approaches to take advantage of symmetry, topology and exchange-enhancement effects for highly efficient control of spin dynamics in complex spin systems. Consequently, MAWiCS’ results will allow for the first time to:
1) Generate nanoscale spin waves from acoustic pulses in ferrimagnets and antiferromagnets.
2) Control skyrmions by acoustic lattices and realize nanoscale topological acoustics
3) Excite and detect antiferromagnetic spin waves by acoustic two-tone modulation
MAWiCS’ results will pave the way for the technological realization of magneto-acoustic spintronic devices, enable antiferromagnetic magnonics and realize topological magnon transport. Ultimately, MAWiCS will thus pioneer a new class of information technology concepts that do not only offer increased performance but also novel functionalities.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
- HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme
Funding Scheme
ERC - Support for frontier research (ERC)Host institution
67663 Kaiserslautern
Germany