Investigating the effects of antiferromagnetic order upon Tc in superconducting spintronic devices
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Cambridge
Department Name: Materials Science & Metallurgy
Abstract
As a member of the Device Materials Group in the department of Materials Science and Metallurgy, my research will be conducted in the newly emerging field of superconducting spintronics. The existence of spin-triplet Cooper pairs at the interfaces of magnetic and superconducting systems and their ability to be spin-polarized has recently been discovered. It is hoped that long-range spin-polarized supercurrents may be used in spintronics as an alternative to the highly dissipative spin-polarized currents seen in current spintronic applications, and potentially as a replacement for traditional transistor-based silicon electronics in the long term. This will require significant investigation and development of devices that allow the manipulation and control of the spin, magnetic and superconducting states in a system. Initially, my research will focus on the growth of epitaxial thin-film antiferromagnets with differing surface-spin structures. I will then attempt to construct devices consisting of antiferromagnetic and superconducting layers in order to investigate the phenomena that emerge at the interface between these two types of material, and particularly to probe how the critical temperature of the superconductor changes when in contact with the various antiferromagnetic surfaces, which would indicate some control over the superconducting state of the system."
People |
ORCID iD |
Mark Blamire (Primary Supervisor) | |
Juliet Emma Thompson (Student) |
Publications
Studentship Projects
Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
EP/N509620/1 | 30/09/2016 | 29/09/2022 | |||
1796341 | Studentship | EP/N509620/1 | 30/09/2016 | 29/09/2020 | Juliet Emma Thompson |
Description | Spin pumping into superconducting materials through Cr/Fe interfaces due to triplet pure spin supercurrent |
Organisation | Imperial College London |
Department | Department of Physics |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Growth and characterisation of Nb/Fe/Nb, Nb/Cr/Fe/Cr/Nb, and Nb/Cr/Py/Cr/Nb thin-film structures for study of spin pumping into Nb. |
Collaborator Contribution | Characterisation via FMR studies of Nb/Fe/Nb, Nb/Cr/Fe/Cr/Nb, and Nb/Cr/Py/Cr/Nb thin-film structures for study of spin pumping into Nb. |
Impact | Spin pumping into superconducting materials through Cr/Fe interfaces due to triplet pure spin supercurrent (manuscript in preparation). |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Spin pumping into superconducting materials through Cr/Fe interfaces due to triplet pure spin supercurrent |
Organisation | University College London |
Department | London Centre for Nanotechnology |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | Growth and characterisation of Nb/Fe/Nb, Nb/Cr/Fe/Cr/Nb, and Nb/Cr/Py/Cr/Nb thin-film structures for study of spin pumping into Nb. |
Collaborator Contribution | Characterisation via FMR studies of Nb/Fe/Nb, Nb/Cr/Fe/Cr/Nb, and Nb/Cr/Py/Cr/Nb thin-film structures for study of spin pumping into Nb. |
Impact | Spin pumping into superconducting materials through Cr/Fe interfaces due to triplet pure spin supercurrent (manuscript in preparation). |
Start Year | 2019 |
Description | Demonstrator - 'Physics at Work' event at Cavendish Laboratory |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | National |
Primary Audience | Schools |
Results and Impact | ~1800 students attend from ~50 schools nationally, visiting a variety of research groups. The presentation is an opportunity to introduce the field of materials science, and each speaker gets the opportunity to talk about their specific research. The event has run for many years, and schools report high enjoyment and interest in the presentation given by the group from materials science every year. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
URL | https://outreach.phy.cam.ac.uk/programme/physicsatwork |
Description | Poster Presentation - Department of Materials Science and Metallurgy Open Day |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Postgraduate open day 2019 at the department of materials science and metallurgy aimed to give prospective students and overview of the research conducted in the department, and tours of the laboratory facilities. There was a poster presentation session, in which specific research projects were discussed, sparking further questions and interest in the subject. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
URL | https://www.msm.cam.ac.uk/news-and-events/events/postgraduate-open-day-2019 |
Description | Volunteer/Demonstrator - Science Festival - University of Cambridge |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Regional |
Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
Results and Impact | The Cambridge Science Festival is held annually, with 1000s of demonstrations/talks/lectures across all subjects. The Device Materials Group in the Materials Science department gave presentations to the general public about their subject area, and introduced the public to cryogenic science in particular. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
URL | https://www.sciencefestival.cam.ac.uk/ |