Topological solitons in ferroics for unconventional computing

Project Information

TOPOCOM

Grant agreement ID: 101119608

DOI

10.3030/101119608

EC signature date 5 July 2023

Start date 1 September 2023

End date 31 August 2027

Funded under

• Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA)

Total cost

No data

EU contribution

€ 2 683 972,80

Coordinated by

NORGES TEKNISK-NATURVITENSKAPELIGE UNIVERSITET NTNU
Norway

Periodic Reporting for period 1 - TOPOCOM (Topological solitons in ferroics for unconventional computing)

Reporting period: 2023-09-01 to 2025-08-31

Summary of the context and overall objectives of the project

Time and energy limitations of modern computers have triggered the search for conceptually new approaches, also referred to as “unconventional computing”. The latest computational demands require the ability to deal with large and complex data, which presents a great obstacle for traditionally applied computing schemes, including limitations for process parallelization and a memory bottle neck. Additional challenges arise from the exponentially growing global datasphere and the associated power consumption.

Recently, topological solitons in condensed matter moved into focus as promising nanoscale systems for unconventional computing. Topological solitons are particle-like textures that arise in ordered media. Such solitons are a rich source for emergent physical phenomena, enabling new pathways for low-energy information processing and data storage. Many of the developments in the field, however, occurred only in the past few years and it has become clear that we have only reached the tip of the iceberg concerning the topological solitons that form in electrically or magnetically ordered materials and their potential for applications.

TOPOCOM is a network of European experts assembled to provide enhanced training to 11 doctoral candidates (DCs) on the integrative concepts related to the physics of functional topological solitons and their application for unconventional computing. The DCs are trained at the cutting edge of science and technology and will come to appreciate the breadth of the field in terms of its intellectual challenges, commercial opportunities, and relationship to societal needs for ever more powerful information technologies with reduced environmental impact. This includes aspects of Green-IT, i.e. low-power technologies, one of the biggest challenges of modern society, as well as modern concepts for unconventional computing. The training enables the DCs to contribute to strengthening the European Research Area and the European Information and Communication Technology Industry in their future careers.

TOPOCOM’s ultimate goal is to move the field of unconventional computing the next level, driving essential advancements towards the realization of future soliton-based technologies.

Work performed from the beginning of the project to the end of the period covered by the report and main results achieved so far

After the TOPOCOM kick of meeting in September 2023, 11 Doctoral Candidates (DCs) were hired and started their research on topological solitons in electrically and magnetically order materials. In their projects, the DCs explore different aspects ranging from the discovery of novel types of functional electric and magnetic solitons to their application in test devices.

Specific highlights were our TOPOCOM training workshops in Trondheim (Norway), Messina (Italy), and Heraklion (Greece), which covered both training through research (science & technology) and training for life (transferable skills). Here, the DCs learnt, for example, about fundamentals concerning electric and magnetic solitons, as well as materials synthesis and device applications, and they had various lectures given by experts about good scientific practice, intellectual property, academic publishing and more.

Scientifically, the TOPOCOM consortium made an important leap ahead and identified promising electric and magnetic model systems for unconventional computing. Protocols for material synthesis were developed, and we started to investigate the stability and dynamics of solitons in different materials, documented in internal reports to foster collaborations and exchange. Furthermore, we developed advanced tools to simulate electric and magnetic solitons, began to establish a universal mathematical framework, and performed first proof-of-concept experiments that demonstrate the general applicability of selected solitons for unconventional computing.

Progress beyond the state of the art and expected potential impact (including the socio-economic impact and the wider societal implications of the project so far)

With TOPOCOM, we established interdisciplinary collaborative efforts, where groups from different disciplines and sectors come together to learn about functional topological solitons from each other. Innovative concepts based on solitons in electrically and magnetically ordered ferroic materials and overarching theoretical descriptions are investigated and combined, which allowed us to develop a joint fundamental understanding across disciplines and we produced first enhanced functional systems.

For example, our research shed new light on the importance of orbital transport mechanisms for the control of magnetic systems, the real time dynamics of topological defects, and the behavior of solitons in synthetic antiferromagnetic multilayers. Another highlight is a high-performance numerical solver that we developed for the simulation of polarization dynamics of topological solitons in ferroelectrics using CUDA/C/C++, using the Thrust library in CUDA, which provides flexibility and seamless switching between GPU and CPU for efficient parallel processing and data transfer.

In the next phase of the project, the DC training workshops will focus more aspects connected to devices for microelectronics and spintronics, making the step from fundamentals to devices, and “Boosting life after the PhD” will be at the core of our training for life activities, addressing topics such as project management, entrepreneurship, and investing in deep tech / founding of a company.

Doctoral Candidates of TOPOCOM