https://www.spintec.fr/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/Plaquette_Spintec_2026.pdf
Context
Recent discoveries have introduced a new class of magnetic materials called altermagnets, which uniquely combine the advantages of both ferromagnets: spin polarization of electric currents, and antiferromagnets: robustness against magnetic fields and ultra-fast terahertz spin dynamics. Their unique properties pave the way for advancements in various fields of quantum-based condensed matter physics, particularly in spintronics and superconductivity. As part of an international collaboration and a result of successful PhD projects, we have experimentally discovered one of the very first and still rare available altermagnets: Mn5Si3,[1-4] opening the door to a wide field of investigation and providing us with a strategic advantage. To date, Mn5Si3 has primarily been prepared using molecular beam epitaxy, a method that produces nearly perfect films but has limitations for certain fundamental studies. We aim to establish the growth of Mn5Si3 altermagnetic layers utilizing the more versatile high-temperature sputtering co-deposition technique, and demonstrate their unrivaled spin physics.
[1]Kounta et al., Phys. Rev. Mat. 7, 024416 (2023) [2] Reichlova et al., Nat. Commun. 15, 4961 (2024) [3] Leiviskä et al., Phys. Rev. B
109, 224430 (2024) [4] Rial et al., Phys. Rev. B 110, L220411 (2024). 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) broad spectrum of experimental contributions:
- Carry out the growth of Mn5Si3 thin films by high-temperature co-sputtering & post-anneal the films.
- Characterize the structural properties of the films by X-ray diffraction: crystallography, interfaces.
- Fabricate mesoscopic devices in clean room & measure spin-dependent transport properties.
- Analyze, interpret & present the results at weekly team meetings and monthly consortium meetings.
(ii) deep physical understanding of state-of-the-art nanomagnetism and spintronics:
Altermagnetism, Berry-curvature physics, Anomalous Hall physics
(iii) strong collaborative environment:
- ‘Antiferromagnetic spintronics’ team, in close collaboration with the ‘Materials’ team.
- International consortium, with partners from France, Germany, and the Czech Republic[1-4]
- Requested background: Master 2, solid state physics, good level of English
- Duration: up to 6 months
- Start period: Feb/ March 2026
- Possibility of PhD thesis : YES