IRP12
Location
Uppsala, Sweden
Host institution
Uppsala Universitet is one of the oldest universities in Scandinavia with historically a strong tradition in high-level education and research. The Department of Physics and Astronomy is a strong research environment in several areas of physics, particularly, x-ray spectroscopy and advanced computational modelling. It is ranked among the top 100 physics institutions in the world.
The theory group (Peter Oppeneer, Jan Rusz) has a strong expertise in ab-initio theory of ultrafast spin dynamics, theory of magneto-optics, theory of electron microscopy, electronic structure theory, theory of orbitronics, and theory development for out-of-equilibrium ultrafast processes.
Supervisor
Prof. Peter Oppeneer, Prof. Jan Rusz
Description
The main objective of this IRP is to pave the way for detection of current- and light-induced orbital densities in selected materials, by developing theory for generation of orbital and spin densities by the OHE and OREE [1] and predicting their specific signatures in typical detection measurements, such as magneto-optical detection, using MOKE [2] or XMCD, or, alternatively, electron magnetic circular dichroism (EMCD) [3] to detect orbital densities with nanometre resolution.
The successful candidate will compute light- and current- induced spin and orbital densities using ab-initio codes and develop and employ microscopic modelling for spin and orbital diffusion, to predict spin and orbital accumulation. The anticipated MOKE, XMCD or EMCD signal will be predicted using ab-initio methods, aiming to achieve consistency between ab-initio predicted spin and orbital densities and dedicated measurements.
A further task is to understand and model transport properties. To this end, the orbital diffusion length, a quantity for which there is currently only a limited understanding, will be studied and the decay of OAM due to scattering (e.g., defects, phonons) will be investigated to understand how this influences the orbital decay.
[1] L. Salemi et al, Nature Commun. 10, 5381 (2019).
[2] I. Lyalin et al, Phys. Rev. Lett. 131, 156702 (2023).
[2] J. Rusz et al, Phys. Rev. B- Rapid Commun. 76, 060408 (2007).
Requirements
Master’s degree in theoretical/computational Physics.
Good verbal and written communication skills in English.
As additional merits the following points will be considered: previous experience with condensed matter theory and with code development, and knowledge of spintronics and/or orbitronics.
Planned Secondments
- Academic secondment at Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz, under the supervision of Dongwook Go,
- Industrial secondment at SIMUNE, under the supervision of Mónica García Mota.
Planned Secondments
Academic Secondment
Johannes Gutenberg Universität Mainz
Mainz, Germany
Industrial Secondment
SIMUNE
Donostia / San Sebastián, Spain
Mónica García Mota
Registering University
Uppsala Universitet
