Topological spin-orbitronic – TOPTRONIC

Conversions between spin and charge currents by Spin-Orbit effects begin to be used in spintronic devices such as Spin-Orbit Magnetic Memories (SOT-MRAMs) harnessing the Spin Hall Effect of heavy metals such as Pt. I want to explore new paradigms in this field using spin-charge current conversion by spin-momentum locking at interface states of novel topological insulators (TIs) such as alpha-Sn and half-Heusler alloys, integrated with non-classical magnetic materials such as Heusler alloys. This goal is strongly coupled to the objective of using the spin-charge current conversions in different types of devices including power generators for the transformation of heat flow into electrical power thanks to new spin-thermal effects where a temperature gradient generates a spin current. The 3-Dimensional TIs are insulators in their bulk but hold metallic topological states in their surfaces which leads to a prediction of high efficiency for charge-spin current conversion by the phenomenon called Edelstein Effect (EE), and its reciprocal, the inverse EE (IEE). Linking materials growth, surface spectroscopies and spin-orbitronics studies, I intend to show that harnessing EE (IEE) in these new nanostructures is a very promising way for harvesting energy and magnetic memories applications. Beyond the technological aspects, fundamental questions open up such as: what is the interaction between a full spin polarized film and a TI film? I will study the role of the different parameters that govern the physics of these systems and the different time scales involved with the objective to tailor high efficiency devices. Achieving any of these aims will represent a major breakthrough towards topological spin-orbitronics and topological spin-caloritronics.