NIST Spin-orbit Phenomena in Magnetic Structures for Spintronics and Spin-orbitronics
NIST is studying spin-orbit interactions in magnetic thin films and nanostructures using advanced techniques to understand damping, torques, and magnetic textures for spintronics.
This grant is no longer accepting proposals
NRC Research Associateship Programs has archived this opportunity.
Funder: NRC Research Associateship Programs
Due Dates: February 1, 2025 | May 1, 2025 | August 1, 2025 | November 1, 2025
Funding Amounts: $82,764 base stipend plus $3,000 travel allowance; 2-year term appointments typical.
Summary: Postdoctoral fellowship at NIST to study spin-orbit interactions in magnetic thin films and nanostructures using advanced microwave and optical measurement techniques for spintronics research.
Key Information: Open to U.S. citizens with a Ph.D. earned within the last 5 years; applications require prior contact with the research adviser; NIST participates in February and August review cycles only.
Description
This fellowship opportunity at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) focuses on investigating spin-orbit phenomena in magnetic thin films and nano-patterned magnetic structures relevant to spintronics and spin-orbitronics. The research aims to understand dynamic magnetic properties influenced by spin-orbit interactions, including damping, anisotropy, interfacial spin-orbit torques (e.g., spin-Hall effect), and the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction (DMI).
NIST has developed unique measurement capabilities such as:
- Broadband ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) spectroscopy
- Brillouin light scattering (BLS) spectroscopy
- Ultra-fast high-harmonic generation (HHG) extreme ultraviolet spectroscopy/microscopy
- Heterodyne magneto-optical microwave microscopy (H-MOMM), capable of measuring spin-wave eigenmodes and damping in nanomagnets and devices down to 50 nm or smaller.
Research also includes studying magnetic textures like skyrmions in dynamic or static states, requiring precise engineering of DMI, exchange interaction, anisotropy, and saturation magnetization, supported by magnetic imaging.
The program investigates spin-orbit torques at ferromagnet/non-magnetic interfaces, relating to spin-diffusion length, spin-memory loss, and spin-mixing conductance, with studies on both dc and high-frequency torques in devices and films.
Sample fabrication is supported by multiple sputtering chambers and a fully equipped cleanroom with state-of-the-art e-beam lithography. Material characterization tools include x-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, magnetometers, FMR, and atomic force microscopy.
Keywords
Spintronics, Spin-orbitronics, Skyrmions, Spin-dynamics, Magneto-optics, Ferromagnetic resonance, High-harmonic generation
