https://www.spintec.fr/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Plaquette_Spintec_2026.pdf
Context: Antiferromagnetic skyrmions, which are novel topological objects in magnetic materials with zero net magnetization, have attracted significant attention for their rich spin physics and potential as particle-like information carriers in classical and quantum spintronic technologies [1,2]. We aim to study the transfer of angular momentum between incoming electrons and antiferromagnetic skyrmions, and the resulting spin dynamics, using atomistic models[3]. This approach involves solving the Landau-Lifshitz- Gilbert equation. The project builds on groundbreaking results[4,5] from successful PhD projects, collaborating between SPINTEC, leaders in antiferromagnetic spintronics, and the University of York, pioneers in magnetic modeling and developers of a widely-used simulation code for atomistic spin dynamics.
[1]Baltz et al, Rev. Mod. Phys. 90, 015005 (2018) | [2]Leiviskä et al, hal-04390931 | [3]Evans et al, J. Phys.: Cond. Mat 26, 103202 (2014) | [4]Thevenard et al, Phys. Rev. B 111, 224429 (2025) | [5]Leiviskä et al, Phys. Rev. B 108, 184424 (2023). All in : https://hal.science/
Work program & Skills acquired during internship
Our primary objective is to offer training and contributions in various aspects of condensed matter physics
within a multidisciplinary and collaborative environment, providing a strong start to a research career:
(i) atomistic modelling
- Designing heterostructures, crystals, and tuning atomic interactions using the VAMPIRE software.
- Conducting highly parallelized simulations on calculation servers in a Unix environment.
- Post-processing and visualizing data using available software and custom Python scripts.
- Interpreting static and spin dynamic data, including their topological features.
- Presenting results to the team during weekly meetings and to the lab’ during dedicated presentations.
(ii) deep physical understanding of state-of-the-art nanomagnetism and spintronics Transfer of angular momentum, Topology in spin systems, Spin-orbit physics, Antiferro- and alter-magnetism.
(iii) opportunity to follow with a PhD thesis, encompassing both modelling and experimental contributions.
- Requested background: Master 2, solid state physics, numerical simulation, good level of English
- Duration: up to 6 months
- Start period: Feb/ March 2026
- Possibility of PhD thesis : YES