Three torques are better than one -Novel magnetization control in synthetic-multiferroics-

This project delves into unexplored territories of spintronics; control of magnetization-dynamics by using synthetic-multiferroic-heterostructures. My objective is to obtain full-control over the magnetization-dynamics of a (nano-)magnet without using magnetic fields. I foresee that this will result in a novel way of power-efficient and fast-coherent-control of magnetization. This has a huge potential for creating commercial devices (memory, data-storage, logic) and will create new paradigms in the fundamentals of the underlying physics by new ways of probing competing interactions in a cleverly chosen, simple materials/device system. Within the research proposed I will combine three emerging fields of magnetism-manipulation. Two of the fields are electric-field mediated, this allows for ultrafast and power-efficient stimuli to be applied. Here, I will manipulate the magnetization of an ultrathin perpendicularly magnetized magnet by coupling it to (i) ferroic ordering of a ferroelectric material and (ii) induced electric-charge at its interface in a synthetic-multiferroic-heterostructure. The third is using the (iii) spin-Hall-effect to create a spin-polarized current in a non-magnetic material which, when injected into a ferromagnet, can be used to manipulate its magnetization. I foresee that the combined action of the three effects will give a pull-pull-push manipulation of the magnetization which I will test in a novel device. An exciting consequence is that by synchronizing/modulating the effects on the time scale of magnetization dynamics a coherent-control of the magnetization is expected. This would not only lead to an active control of the magnetization-dynamics and state but also logic-operations can be expected My extensive experience in growth, fabrication, characterisation and understanding of magnetization dynamics in perpendicularly-magnetized materials combined with the expertise and facilities of the host-group and collaborators in ultra-fast magnetization dynamics, charge-controlled-magnetic-anisotropy, ferroelectric-ferromagnetic-heterostructures, and theoretical understanding of the spin Hall effect, will guarantee this to be an exciting and productive pioneering research direction.