Missions

Postdoctoral Researcher to contribute to an ambitious project on ultrafast terahertz (THz) modulation in spintronic emitters, supported by the national PEPR "SPIN" program and specifically its TOAST moonshot project.

Activités

The project aims to push the boundaries of THz technology by developing a new generation of spin-based heterostructures capable of efficiently generating, manipulating, and modulating ultrabroadband THz radiation — addressing the limitations of current THz sources.
The core innovation lies in the ultrafast modulation of the emitted THz polarization in spintronic emitters — structures that exploit spin-orbit interactions in layered ferromagnetic/heavy-metal materials. These emitters convert ultrafast laser pulses into broadband THz radiation through spin-to-charge conversion, offering broadband emission (>5 THz), polarization control, and wavelength flexibility.
Building on recent breakthroughs, this project introduces magneto-elastic and anisotropic materials into these stacks, enabling spin reorientation transitions (SRT) that provide unprecedented magnetic sensitivity and dynamic control over the emitted THz signal. The goal is to integrate these emitters into surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, inducing high-frequency mechanical strain to achieve GHz-range THz signal modulation — a critical advancement for next-gen THz communication systems and spectroscopy.

• Design, fabricate, and characterize spintronic THz emitters with engineered magneto-elastic properties.
• Develop advanced thin-film stacks and study their spin-charge conversion efficiency.
• Integrate emitters with SAW devices for GHz-frequency strain modulation.
• Perform time-domain and frequency-domain THz spectroscopy to assess modulation performance.
• Collaborate with national and international partners within the TOAST consortium to translate findings into functional prototypes for THz communication and spectroscopy.

Compétences

• PhD in Physics, Materials Science, Electrical Engineering, or related fields.
• Strong background in spintronics, magnetism, nanofabrication, or THz technology.
• Experience with thin-film deposition, acoustic devices, or ultrafast optics is highly desirable.
• Analytical mindset with a passion for experimental work and interdisciplinary research.

Contexte de travail

The postdoctoral project will take place at the Institute of Electronics, Microelectronics, and Nanotechnology (UMR CNRS 8520 – https://www.iemn.fr/en/), located in Villeneuve-d'Ascq, near the city of Lille (France). With a total staff of over 500 people, the institute conducts research in various fields, ranging from physics to materials science, as well as micro- and optoelectronics, micro- and nanotechnology.

Two teams from IEMN are involved in the TOAST project. The candidate will be supervised by Mathias Vanwolleghem from the THz Photonics team and Nicolas Tiercelin from the AIMAN-FILMS team, who have a long history of collaboration on THz spintronics through their participation in several national and European projects on the subject. These two teams bring the expertise and the experimental and technological platforms necessary for the successful execution of the project.

Le poste se situe dans un secteur relevant de la protection du potentiel scientifique et technique (PPST), et nécessite donc, conformément à la réglementation, que votre arrivée soit autorisée par l'autorité compétente du MESR.