Van der Waals

Vakgroeplezing FNA

donderdag 11 februari van 14.30 uur Racing magnets at FNA by Reinoud Lavrijsen in Spectrum 2.03.

Spintronics, nanomagnets and a new computer memory?

At the research group Fysica van Nanostructuren (FNA) we are investigating new materials and devices that could be an excellent candidate to replace the conventional computer memories and data storage devices! This so-called magnetic domain wall (MDW) racetrack approach is an excellent example of the field called spintronics, uniquely combining electronics with the quantum-entity spin. But before such devices could be realized many technical and fundamental hurdles have to be taken.

During my PhD project, I focus on ultrathin (3-4 atoms thick) out-of-plane magnetized nanostripes. In these stripes we push magnetic domain walls (MDW) by a magnetic field and, more interesting, by a current-density in the order of ~1011A/m2. The interplay between the current and the MDW gives the possibility to move multiple MDW’s in the same direction. Fortunately for me, this interaction between the current (electrons) and the MDW’s (spin) is far from understood, and gives ample opportunities to focus on fundamental understanding of this interaction through new, dedicated experiments.

In this presentation an overview is given of the current status of the field, including the latest exciting observations, and how this translates to current research at FNA. This includes a number of topics, such as the fabrication of the racetrack devices and material characterization with femto-second laser pulses.

Reinoud hopes to see you all at the FNA Vakgroup Praatje and shows some of the new physics happening right around the corner of your lecture room!