New PhD Project Offers
2012-11-EM New theoretical concepts for designing oxide interfaces with exotic properties for electronics and spintronics (UCBN-CRISMAT, ULG-PhyTheMa)
The control of matter properties, such as transport, magnetic, dielectric properties, is one of the dreams of condensed matter physicists. Oxide thin films and superlattices offers in this respect a wide variety of perspectives and many pieces of work are done along this line. During the recent years, lots of efforts were spent on insulating oxides interfaces with the aim, for instance, to get coupled ferroelectricity and magnetism or to generate highly-confined 2-dimensional electron gas.
Guiding the design of new systems requires better fundamental understanding of epitaxial and interfacial effects and relies on reliable theories and model linking specific atomic arrangement to specific properties of the system. Recent work opens promising opportunities [1]. The purpose of this project is to rely on first-principles calculations to develop such concepts and models in order to to control the properties of metal/insulators oxide superlattices. For instance, can we control magnetic or transport properties using an appropriate superlattice design ? Can we control the properties of one layer of the superlattices while acting on the other layer ? etc.
This project is to be conducted in co-direction between Liège (Ph. Ghosez group) and Caen (MB Lepetit group). The two groups will tackle the problem from complementary points of views. In Liège a specific attention will be paid to the band alignment at the interfaces and to structural and dynamical properties. In Caen, attention will be given to the electronic and magnetic properties and the derivation of simple models from the first-principles results.
This project will be performed in close collaboration with several experimentalist groups.
[1] A. Sadoc, B. Mercey, Ch. Simon, D. Grebille, W. Prellier and M.-B. Lepetit, Phys. Rev. Letters, 104, 046804 (2010) ; Ph. Ghosez and J.-M. Triscone, Nature Materials 10, 269 (2011) ; M.-B. Lepetit, B. Mercey and Ch. Simon, arXiv :1105.0986.
Project Partners
ULG-PhyTheMa (Institut de Physique, Université de Liège) Ph. Ghosez is a specialist in first principle density functional calculations, with specific expertise on thin films.
UCBN-CRISMAT (Caen) - M.-B. Lepetit is a specialist of first principle wave function calculations as well as model determination on magnetic and strongly correlated systems.
PHASIS, a Geneva-based SME specialized in the transfer of technology from academy to industry
