Postdoctoral Research Associate in Condensed Matter Physics

The Role

A Postdoctoral Research Associate position is available to pursue experimental research in the field of complex magnetism within the Durham Condensed Matter Physics group. The position is associated with a new two-year Grant on "Advanced materials for next-generation spintronics: The deterministic control of altermagnets" funded by UK Research and Innovation (UKRI).

The research builds upon our expertise in understanding and predicting novel magnetostructural coupling schemes in quantum materials. We employ theoretical analyses of crystal and magnetic symmetry, characterised experimentally by state-of-the-art synchrotron X-ray and neutron scattering experiments performed at large-scale national and international facilities. The post holder will work directly with Dr. Roger Johnson and other members of his research group within the Durham Condensed Matter Physics research section, and in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Warwick, University College London, and the XMaS beamline at the European Synchrotron Radiation Source, Grenoble, France.

The recent discovery of altermagnetism marks a transformative leap in the potential application of antiferromagnets in spintronics. The goal of the research is to address a key scientific challenge before altermagnetic materials can be exploited in technologies of the future. The challenge is to find novel methods of deterministic antiferromagnetic domain control through the application of external fields that modify the underlying crystal symmetries. The postholders will be expected to display initiative and creativity in this endeavour, together with the appropriate skills and knowledge, required to work with Dr. Johnson and collaborators to deliver the research aims.

These include (1) imaging altermagnetic domains through interference resonant X-ray diffraction, (2) establish novel methods of deterministic strain-gated altermagnetic domain switching under relatively small applied magnetic fields, a nd (3) democratise principles of best practice for the study of advanced materials under applied stress. The post holder is therefore expected to have experience and familiarity with scattering techniques employed at synchrotron X-ray and/or neutron facilities in the study of crystal and magnetic structures, ideally including the in-situ application of uniaxial strain to bulk single crystals.

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