Postdoctoral researcher M/W in modulation of the magnetic properties of LSMO by ion irradiation for sensor and memory applications

2 Nov 2023
Job Information

Organisation/Company

CNRS

Department

Centre de recherche sur les ions, les matériaux et la photonique

Research Field

Physics

Researcher Profile

First Stage Researcher (R1)

Country

France

Application Deadline

22 Nov 2023 – 23:59 (UTC)

Type of Contract

Temporary

Job Status

Full-time

Hours Per Week

35

Offer Starting Date

1 Feb 2024

Is the job funded through the EU Research Framework Programme?

Not funded by an EU programme

Is the Job related to staff position within a Research Infrastructure?

No

Offer Description

Functional oxide materials exhibit a wide variety of physical properties such as superconductivity, ferroelectricity, magnetism, etc., which are promising for future generation spintronic devices, including sensing and memory devices.

Among them, La0.7Sr0.3MnO3 (LSMO) has been widely used in the form of thin films in recent years for the development of sensitive sensors operating at room temperature. LSMO shows a transition from ferromagnetic to paramagnetic states at the Curie temperature of 360 K, which is accompanied by a metal-insulator transition.

The latter property can be used to make resistive bolometers, while ferromagnetic properties have been explored to build magnetic field sensors based on the giant magnetoresistance (GMR) effect. The latter application requires uniaxial magnetic anisotropy, which in LSMO thin films is currently achieved using vicinal SrTiO3 substrates, i.e. substrates whose surface is intentionally misaligned with respect to the crystallographic axis with an angle (in the range of 2 to 10°). A well-defined uniaxial anisotropy, ideal for magnetic detection based on the GMA effect) can then be induced with an easy axis of magnetization parallel to the steps.

The MELIORATION project proposes to use ion irradiation either by the PELIICAEN focused ion beam platform of CIMAP, or on the beam lines of GANIL to reproduce the vicinal structure.
This allows the use of other substrates than vicinal substrates to induce uniaxial magnetic anisotropy (i.e. planar SrTiO3 and silicon) for further development of LSMO magnetic sensors.

In addition, we will control the effect of the strain gradient induced by irradiation on the breaking of the symmetry of the LSMO crystal. Such modification would be essential to stabilize topological spin textures such as skyrmions for the development of ultrafast and ultradense magnetic random access memories (MRAM).

The post-doctoral fellow will carry out the following tasks:
– Literature review on the subject
– Planning of experiments to be carried out – Participating to the irradiation and material growth experiments
– Conducting the structural (AFM, TEM…) and magnetic characterizations (Kerr microscopy, MFM…)
– Papers and conference presentations.

The position is located in a sector under the protection of scientific and technical potential (PPST), and therefore requires, in accordance with the regulations, that your arrival is authorized by the competent authority of the MESR.
National and international travels are planned.

Requirements

Research Field

Physics

Education Level

PhD or equivalent

Languages

FRENCH

Level

Basic

Research Field

Physics

Years of Research Experience

None

Additional Information
Eligibility criteria

The candidate must hold a PhD in physics, with a good knowledge of magnetism, spintronics, with experience in Magnetic Force Microscopy and/or Magneto-optic Kerr effect measurements. The work will be conducted between two laboratories (CIMAP and GREYC), therefore good contact, a sense of collective work and involvement in different types of task are essential. Previous experience on a large instrument will be valued.

Website for additional job details

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Offres/CDD/UMR6252-SARCOL-025/Default.aspx

Work Location(s)

Number of offers available

1

Company/Institute

Centre de recherche sur les ions, les matériaux et la photonique

Country

France

City

CAEN

Where to apply

Website

https://emploi.cnrs.fr/Candidat/Offre/UMR6252-SARCOL-025/Candidater.aspx

Contact

City

CAEN

STATUS: EXPIRED