PhD: Surface acoustic waves for novel magnetism-based devices

Magnetism intervenes in the data storage components, with information coded by the magnetization direction of submicronic magnetic domains. The calculations are instead done using semiconducting materials, with transistors performing logical operations (“NOT”, “AND” etc.). A new paradigm proposes to use magnetic materials to perform these operations, by en-coding the information on the amplitude and phase of so-called “spin-waves”, magnetic exci-tations, with GHz frequencies, and micron wavelengths. They can be excited by RF antennas, or more recently by surface acoustic waves, thanks to magneto-elasticity (an effect coupling magnetization and strain ). Foreseen advantages are a higher integrability, a higher tunability and even a lower consumption of devices for our increasingly energy-greedy digital world. The objective of this thesis will be to explore the potential of this magnetoacoustic cou-pling on a variety of systems up to now rarely studied under this type of stimulus. Contact us to know more !! The PhD candidate will interact with several French and foreign groups with which the group is currently collaborating, promising enriching interactions on other research projects related to magnonics, spintronics and magneto-acoustics. We are looking for a candidate with a strong motivation for experimental work, although simple modelling and numerical simulations are also routinely used to interpret our data. Typical techniques that will be used are: time-resolved Kerr effect using a pulsed laser, RF circuitry and electronics, clean-room nano- and microfabrication. A solid background in solid state physics, and ideally, magnetism is not compulsory, but would be an advantage. See https://ed397.sorbonne-universite.fr/fr/future-doctorate-candidate/ed397-competition.html for application details.