Ongoing Research Projects

Grant title (Michał OPUS)

Grant No. 2021/41/B/ST5/01149 financed by the Polish National Science Centre (NCN)
Programme: OPUS 21
Project duration: 17.01.2022 – present
Budget: 1 462 780 PLN

Piezospintronics and voltage control of magnetic anisotropy – novel approaches to control magnetic state of antiferromagnets

Antiferromagnets (AFMs), which possess a zero net magnetic moment, up to very recently has played a passive role in spintronics. However, recent demonstration of manipulation of the magnetic states in AFMs makes them a promising alternative for use as active elements in the next generation data storage materials. In contrast to FMs, the AFMs are robust against magnetic perturbations and do not create stray fields, which is beneficial for ultimate down-size scalability of magnetic memory devices.

The aim of the project is to control magnetic state of thin antiferromagnetic films with a use of electric field. The project will be realized in two parallel paths. The first will concentrate on strain-induced piezoelectric switching of magnetic moments in AFMs. Here, we will grow metallic and insulating thin antiferromagnetic films on piezoelectric PMN-PT substrates and examine how the electric field applied to the substrate influence the magnetic state of AFM through magnetoelastic coupling. For metallic AFMs we will explore effect of modification of the spin-orbit interaction on the electrical switching characteristics.

The second path of the project focuses on demonstration of direct influence of electric field on magnetic anisotropy in AFMs, so called voltage control magnetic anisotropy (VCMA) effect. In this case an electric field will be applied directly to the AFM/dielectric interface. In both routes AFM layers will be grown by molecular beam epitaxy which offers a superior control of the interface and enables to grow the layers with sub-nanometer thicknesses. With a use of sophisticated techniques, like x-ray linear magnetic dichroism and x-ray photoemission electron microscope we will be able to characterize magnetic structure of AFMs and its dependence on (piezo-)-electric field induced switching. The feasibility of AFM piezospintronics and voltage control of magnetic anisotropy in AFMs will be presented via magnetotransport measurements.

Grant No. 2020/38/E/ST3/00086 financed by the Polish National Science Centre (NCN)
Programme: SONATA BIS 10
Project duration: 29.07.2021 – present
Budget: 1 514 000 PLN

Completed Research Projects

Antiferromagnetic proximity effect and development of epitaxial bimetallic antiferromagnets – two routes towards next-generation spintronics

The main active components of spintronic elements are ferromagnets (FMs), in which a net spin polarization is responsible for logical zeros and ones. Antiferromagnets (AFMs), in which magnetic order is accompanied by a zero net magnetic moment, play an important role in the spin-valve effect by establishing direction of FM reference layer via an exchange bias effect. However, recent demonstration of magneto-transport effects in AFMs and their ultrafast magnetization dynamics make them potential candidates that could replace FMs in spintronic devices. In this project I propose two routes that will lead to development of antiferromagnetic spintronics. The first one is focused on tuning magnetic properties of AFMs via modulation of strain in AFM layer. The second path concentrates on the epitaxial bimetallic AFMs. In both paths the feasibility of AFM spintronics with studied AFM materials will be presented.

Financed by the Foundation for Polish Science (FNP)
Programme: FNP HOMING
Project duration: 01.03.2018 – 28.02.2021
Budget: 787 310 PLN
https://www.afm-homing.agh.edu.pl/home

Grant title (Tomek FeRh)

Grant No. 2015/19/B/ST3/00543 financed by the Polish National Science Centre (NCN)
Programme: OPUS 10
Project duration: 03.10.2016 – 02.10.2020
Budget: 1 114 000 PLN

Cooperation

Elettra Sincrotrone Trieste
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SOLARIS
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