Superconduction Spintronics
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Materials Science & Metallurgy
Abstract
Spintronics is the study of electron spin and the potential exploitation of this property in future devices, intended as an improved version of modern electronics. Superconductivity is a phenomenon certain materials exhibit at very low temperatures, allowing current flow with no resistance (and therefore no energy loss).
My project is in the area of superconducting spintronics, focussing on the interaction of electron spin with this superconducting state, which if understood enough to be utilised could lead to more energy efficient high powered quantum computing. Naturally, these do not combine easily, as the ordinary superconducting state involves pairs of electrons with opposite spins, which cancel each other and do not permit overall spin transport.
Currently, my research is looking at spin injection into superconducting layers via spin pumping, which involves precessing a magnetic moment in an adjacent ferromagnetic material. Additionally, I hope to investigate the impact of additional metallic layers, acting as spin sinks, which have shown indications of increasing the number and effective lifetime of injected particles.
This work is aligned with an EPSRC Programme grant."
My project is in the area of superconducting spintronics, focussing on the interaction of electron spin with this superconducting state, which if understood enough to be utilised could lead to more energy efficient high powered quantum computing. Naturally, these do not combine easily, as the ordinary superconducting state involves pairs of electrons with opposite spins, which cancel each other and do not permit overall spin transport.
Currently, my research is looking at spin injection into superconducting layers via spin pumping, which involves precessing a magnetic moment in an adjacent ferromagnetic material. Additionally, I hope to investigate the impact of additional metallic layers, acting as spin sinks, which have shown indications of increasing the number and effective lifetime of injected particles.
This work is aligned with an EPSRC Programme grant."
Organisations
People |
ORCID iD |
| Jason Robinson (Primary Supervisor) | |
| Ben Stoddart-Stones (Student) |
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2022 | |||
| 1937222 | Studentship | EP/N509620/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/09/2021 | Ben Stoddart-Stones |
| Description | Spin valves are ubiquitous devices in moden electronics, in which a current passing through a spacer layer between two ferromagnets experiences a different resistance depending on the spin of electrons within that current. Superconducting spin valves include a superconducting spacer layer, to save energy, as supercondcutors transport electricity without energy loss. In this work, superconducting spin valves in which the current passes through the different layers perpendicularly have been fabricated, and an unexpected resistance behaviour has been observed. These results are currently being written into a paper. |
| Exploitation Route | These results will increase understanding of superconducting spin valves, to aid future research in this field. It may open up new potential uses for these devices. Superconducting spin valves will be necessary components in a complete future supercondcuting spintronics based computer, which would be more energy and time efficient, dramatically decreasing the energy requirements of data centres and similar large scale computing set ups. |
| Sectors | Digital/Communication/Information Technologies (including Software),Electronics |
| Description | Poster Presentation at 2018 Summer school on Superconducting Electronics |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The 2018 Summer school on Superconducting Electronics was a week long series of lectures on various different types of superconducting electronics technologies, primarily all future computing technologies. This summer school aimed to educate and inspire future researchers in these fields. As part of this, attendees performed a poster presentation and discussed their research with each other, with the aim of broadening horizons and developing more rounded knowledge. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.eps.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1093787 |
| Description | Poster Presentation at Non-equilibrium superconductivity and spintronics meeting |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The 'Non-equilibrium superconductivity and spintronics meeting' was a two day conference hosted by the Royal Society that brought together researchers from these fields from across the world to discuss recent research and encourage collaboration. A range of work was presented, and encouraging connections were made, including improvements to planned work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://royalsociety.org/science-events-and-lectures/2019/02/superconductivity-spintronics/ |
| Description | Poster Presentation at Oxide Superconducting Spintronics Workshop 2018 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The 'Oxide Superconducting Spintronics Workshop 2018' was a week long conference focusing on superconducting spintronics, especially using oxide materials. A number of eminent researchers from around the world attended to present their recent results, with the aim of planning further research via co-operation between different groups that work in this area. Work between these groups has continued to be fruitful since this event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://gefes-rsef.org/oxide-superconducting-spintronics-workshop-2018-amalfi/ |
| Description | Poster Presentation at Superconducting Spintronics and Majorana Physics Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | The 'Superconducting Spintronics and Majorana Physics Symposium' was a 2 day conference with attendees, primarily researchers and postgraduates, from around the UK and from Israel. The conference focused on recent discoveries in Majorana physics and superconducting spintronics and aimed to stimulate discussion and collaboration on these topics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Presentation at Jesus College MCR Graduate Conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | 10 minute talk on my research open to graduate students from my college from various backgrounds spanning the arts and sciences. Questions were asked following the talk by audience members unfamiliar with the field, having learnt something new. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | SPICE Topological Superconductivity in Quantum Materials Workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Poster presentation at online conference, the SPICE Topological Superconductivity in Quantum Materials Workshop, in October 2020. Presentation of my work to postgraduate students and academics outside of my immediate field, encouraging discussion and learning of new material. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.spice.uni-mainz.de/topological-superconductivity-2020-program/ |