Spin-caloric phenomena in suspended ferromagnets: from plane film to low-dimensional effects

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Dirk Grundler
• Subject Area: Experimental Condensed Matter Physics
• Term: from 2011 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 198146013

Spin transport phenomena induced by thermal gradients in a ferromagnet have generated a large interest in magnetism research. Here, the fundamental understanding of the recently discovered spin Seebeck effect presents a great challenge. We propose to investigate heat-induced spin transport phenomena in ferromagnetic devices which are suspended, i.e., decoupled from the substrate. This will allow us to create large thermal gradients and come close to theoretical models considering a onedimensional approach for heat and spin-current flow. We will modify the transport properties in that we nanopattern the ferromagnet by, e.g., narrow constrictions or periodic arrays of holes. We will further consider inhomogeneous magnetization patterns and domain walls. By these means we will address the open question to which degree phonons (lattice vibrations), magnons (collective spin excitations), electron and spin currents are relevant and contribute to the heat-induced electrical signals.

• DFG Programme: Priority Programmes
• Subproject of: SPP 1538: Spin Caloric Transport (SpinCaT)
• International Connection: Switzerland
• Participating Person: Professorin Dr. Anna Fontcuberta i Morral