CAREER: Education and Research on Nanoscale Spintronic Systems and Heterostructures

University Of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln NE

Investigators

Abstract

Non-Technical Abstract: Modern materials science permits manufacturing of layered magnetic thin film structures where growth conditions are controlled down to the atomic scale, which in turn enables fabrication of new and potentially useful artificially designed heterosystems. This Faculty Early Career Award funds education and research on nanoscale spintronic systems and magnetic heterostructures at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Special emphasis is laid on the fabrication of novel spintronics devices combining memory and logical functions. In general, spintronics takes advantage from the control of electric currents via the electron spin which adds a new degree of freedom to the conventional charge based current control. Here, new functionality is based on the electric control of the interface magnetization and the resulting electrically controlled interaction between magnetoelectric and ferromagnetic thin films in close contact. State of the art technology of thin film growth is used to produce these novel devices. In addition, fundamental aspects of thermodynamics in artificial magnetic superstructures are explored. This includes the control of interlayer interaction in novel superlattices by temperature, magnetic and electric fields. These studies have applications in magnetic refrigeration technology and provide access to hitherto unexplored magnetic phases. Research and education in spintronics and nanostructuring offers key qualifications in a field which presumably will revolutionize future information technology and will have a huge impact on US economy. The complexity of this field demands new educational methods. This award funds an E-learning approach using interactive online virtual experts ("knowledge Avatars") as a new key element. An Avatar is an interactive online character communicating face to face with the user, creating an intimate relation with a virtual platform. Web-based, Avatar-guided visualizations, hypertexts combining power point shows and animations, and virtual "hands-on" experiments will provide an interactive approach to learning and are a modern platform to attract public interest in research and education at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Technical Abstract: Modern materials science permits control of the composition and the morphology of layered structures on the nanoscale or even below, which in turn enables fabrication of new and potentially useful artificially designed heterosystems. This Faculty Early Career Award funds education and research on nanoscale spintronic systems and magnetic heterostructures at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Special emphasis is laid on the fabrication of novel spintronics devices combining memory and logical functions. Their functionality is based on the electric control of the interface magnetization in exchange bias heterosystems using molecular beam epitaxial growth of magnetoelectric/ferromagnetic exchange coupled thin films. In addition, fundamental aspects of thermodynamics in artificial magnetic superstructures are explored. This includes the control of interlayer exchange in antiferromagnetic superlattices by temperature, magnetic and electric fields. These studies aim on the creation of very large entropy changes in artificial magnetocaloric heterostructures and the control of staggered fields in artificial antiferromagnets providing access to hitherto unexplored magnetic phase transitions. Research and education in spintronics and nanostructuring offers key qualifications for the challenges involved in future technology. The complexity of this field demands new educational methods. This award funds an E-learning approach using interactive online virtual experts ("knowledge Avatars") as a new key element. An Avatar is an interactive online character communicating face to face with the user, creating an intimate relation with a virtual platform. Web-based, Avatar-guided visualizations, hypertexts combining power point shows and animations, and virtual "hands-on" experiments will provide an interactive approach to learning and are a modern platform to attract public interest in research and education at UNL.