Atomistic Spin Textures in Antiferromagnets

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Axel Lubk
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: since 2025
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 550352263

The prospect of the active use of antiferromagnetic materials in spintronics has led to a turbulent development in the understanding of this material group. Research, originally propelled by the transfer of novel spintronic methods of manipulation and detection from ferromagnets, soon led to discoveries of effects unique to antiferromagnets. A remarkable example is the experimental observation of the existence of atomically sharp domain walls in an antiferromagnet and of a new type of magnetic switching based on quenching of the high resistive nano-fragmented magnetic state induced by the application of short electrical or laser pulses in devices fabricated from epitaxial films of antiferromagnetic CuMnAs. The objective of this project is the extension of experimental evidence and hence understanding of these novel effects based on atomistic spin textures from a single material into a set of materials and the development of transmission electron microscopy methods allowing for the visualization of the magnetic order, spin textures, and their pulse induced changes in antiferromagnets with atomic resolution.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants
• International Connection: Czech Republic
• Cooperation Partner: Kamil Olejník, Ph.D.