PhD Studentship: Optically-Reconfigurable Nanomagnetic Devices for Data Processing

Information technologies are ubiquitous, allowing us to solve more and more complex computational problems than ever. However, the increase in computational power and data density comes at high costs with respect to energy consumption, and a sizeable fraction of electricity used to drive modern chips gets dissipated as heat. However, potentially useful phenomena arise in situations where the temperature distribution is not uniform, e.g., if one side of a device is hot while its opposite side is cold. Potential applications for such non-equilibrium thermal effects are moving magnetic data bits and unconventional computing approaches using stochastic processes. 

Within our interdisciplinary project, you will create and characterise novel devices using optically-controlled efficient, fast, and reconfigurable nanoscale heating for key applications in magnetism, including the controlled switching and motion of magnetic domains and unconventional computing (for examples see https://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C9NR01628G and https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevApplied.18.024014). You will use state-of-the-art nanolithography and thin-film deposition by e-beam and sputtering to create the hybrid plasmonic-magnetic devices, and different table-top optical, magnetic and electrical characterisation techniques to demonstrate and quantify their optical control and functional operation.

As a research student within the Department of Physics you will be exposed to research areas on diverse topics of material science such as magnetism, spintronics, and novel 2D and topological materials for energy-efficient applications, as well as interdisciplinary links to neuromorphic computing architectures. You will benefit from our recent £4.2m building refurbishment and the University's investment in updating our physics, chemistry and engineering laboratories. Research within the Department of Physics is further supported by access to an experienced team of researchers and state-of-the-art facilities of the Loughborough's Material Characterisation Centre (LMCC), which contains over £6m of world-class characterisation equipment.

You will join a diverse, supportive and academically stimulating community engaged in wide-ranging research – making Loughborough University an excellent institution at which to pursue your research aspirations. You will be supported through joint weekly research meetings and trained on technical, industry relevant skills such as drafting publications and presenting at international conferences. There will be opportunities to travel nationally and internationally.

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