Project description
Using diamond defects to image magnetic states of antiferromagnets
Antiferromagnetic materials are very promising candidates for the development of low-power data storage devices. However, most microscopy techniques fail to image their magnetic state in real space. A recently developed method that involves nitrogen-vacancy centres in diamonds could help resolve this issue. A single nitrogen-vacancy defect is placed on the apex of a nanopillar in a diamond tip, which allows the tip to closely scan the sample surface. Funded by the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions programme, the DIMAF project plans to use this technique to explore the nanoscale magnetic order in antiferromagnetic materials. In particular, the project will investigate the magnetic configuration of the modulated antiferromagnet bismuth ferrite.
Objective
Antiferromagnetic materials are very promising candidates for the development of new data storage devices with a low power comsumption, which explains the recent growing interest for the field of antiferromagnetic spintronics. However, the study of these systems is hindered by the difficulty to image their magnetic state in real space with most of the available microscopy techniques. The recently developed nitrogen-vacancy (NV) center magnetometry appears to be a solution to this problem. It probes the magnetic order via the measurement of the stray field present at the surface of the sample. The field is measured using the Zeeman shifts of the electronic spin sublevels of a single nitrogen-vacancy defect in diamond. The single NV defect is placed at the apex of a nanopillar in a diamond tip integrated into an atomic force microscope, allowing to scan in close proximity to the sample surface. The goal of this project is to use this technique to explore the magnetic order at the nanoscale in antiferromagnetic materials which are relevant for applications in spintronics. The magnetic configuration of the modulated antiferromagnet BiFeO3 will be investigated. The experiments will first focus on the effects of epitaxial strain on the antiferromagnetic order. In a second step, the antiferromagnetic structure will be manipulated with local strain and spin currents. The NV-center magnetometer will be used to image directly the induced modifications.
This project offers high-quality technical training in NV-center magnetometry as well as the opportunity to acquire and strengthen transferable skills and to participate to international collaborations. It will thus foster the career development of the researcher in the growing and highly innovative field of antiferromagnetic spintronics.
Fields of science
Programme(s)
Funding Scheme
MSCA-IF-EF-ST - Standard EFCoordinator
75794 Paris
France