FeRh is a unique material that changes its intrinsic magnetic order at an ambient temperature of 360 K; no other similar cases are known so far. This highly unusual metamagnetic transition suggests a possibility to switch between the two magnetic states by external perturbation, such as strain, potentially offering completely new avenues in device design.

Our preliminary results have proven that this magnetic phase transition can be further tuned with ion implantation. Nonetheless, very little is known about the basic properties or nanoscale effects of these phenomena.

You will be working in a group of experimental and theoretical scientists to study the fundamental physics of the metamagnetic transition of FeRh.

The outcome of the project will be a fundamental understanding of the physics that underlies the strain-imposed metamagnetic phase transition, the role that structural confinement has on these properties, and, eventually, an electrostatically controlled magnetic material that achieves logical switching efficiencies that exceed current electronic device technologies.  

key words

Metamagnetic transition, strain, FeRh, spintronics, antiferromagnet, ferromagnetism.

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral applicants