Post-doctoral Research on Investigation of the coupling between elastic and magnetic properties for the manipulation of skyrmions by surface acoustic waves (M/F))

Job Description

Missions

-The project has a strong experimental and theoretical component. The postdoctoral researcher will be involved in the following activities:
- Performing micromagnetic simulations;
- Carrying out Brillouin Light Scattering (BLS) measurements;
- Performing ferromagnetic resonance (FMR) experiments;
- Designing, optimizing, and implementing experimental setups and protocols, including their interfacing and integration;
- Developing theoretical models and numerical simulations to interpret experimental results;
- Contributing to the writing of scientific publications and the dissemination of research results;
- Supervising students and interns involved in the project.

Activity

The ACOUSKYR project aims to develop new strategies for the dynamic manipulation of magnetic skyrmions using surface acoustic waves (SAWs). In particular, the project will explore the possibility of nucleating, annihilating, moving, and detecting individual skyrmions as well as skyrmion lattices through acoustic excitations.
The postdoctoral researcher will initially investigate the coupling between the mechanical and magnetic properties of the materials under study. This work will combine micromagnetic simulations with Brillouin Light Scattering (BLS) spectroscopy.
As a first step, the influence of non-uniform mechanical strains on skyrmion dynamics will be investigated, with the aim of determining whether such strains can be used to control skyrmion motion.

The project will then focus on the coupling between standing surface acoustic waves and skyrmions, with the goal of controlling their spatial position and exploring the formation of ordered skyrmion lattices. The excitation of skyrmion eigenmodes by acoustic waves will also be investigated to explore new mechanisms for controlling their dynamics.

On the experimental side, BLS spectroscopy will be used to characterize the magnetic properties of the materials, in particular the interfacial Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction (DMI), through the non-reciprocity of spin-wave frequencies. The influence of static strain, induced by the piezoelectric substrate, on the DMI, magnetic damping, and magnetic anisotropy will also be investigated.
Overall, these studies will help identify the materials and experimental conditions most suitable for the acoustic manipulation of skyrmions, while contributing more broadly to the development of strain-controlled magnetism and its potential applications.

Your Profil

Skills

While it is not required to have all the skills related to experiments/simulations, good knowledge in the field of solid-state physics, especially in magnetism and microwaves as well as a good backgroundin magnetization dynamics would be highly desirable. Experience in micromagnetic simulations would be highly appreciated. Most of all, a genuine motivation for experimental work, curiosity for magnetism and spintronics and the capacity to work autonomously will be very appreciated.

Your Work Environment

This post-doc position is part of a 4-year ACOUSKYR (Surface acoustic waves for the manipulation of skyrmions) collaborative research project between six laboratories funded by the PEPR Spin (Frensh exploratory research program). You will be spending the whole of your time at LSPM (Université Sorbonne Paris Nord). The laboratoire des sciences des procédés et des matériaux (LSPM) is located in the northern suburbs of Paris (10 min by train from Gare du Nord in Paris). About 50 people work on material science and material processing in view of tuning a broad range of properties: mechanical, optical, electronic or magnetic.

Constraints and risks

Project Constraints
- Strong interdisciplinarity: the project requires combining solid-state physics, magnetism, magnetization dynamics, acoustics, micromagnetics, and experimental techniques such as BLS and FMR.
-Training and expertise across multiple techniques: the postdoctoral researcher will need to develop and combine expertise in several experimental and numerical approaches.
- Experiment–simulation coupling: close interaction between experimental measurements, micromagnetic simulations, and theoretical modelling will be required to interpret the results and guide the experimental work.

Main Scientific and Technical Risks

- Insufficient SAW–skyrmion coupling: the interaction between surface acoustic waves and skyrmions may be too weak to achieve efficient manipulation.
- Lack of controlled skyrmion motion: the mechanical strains induced by SAWs may not lead to sufficiently large or reproducible skyrmion displacement.
- Limited/weak BLS signal: the detection of magnetic excitations or strain-induced effects may be limited by the signal-to-noise ratio.

Compensation and benefits

Compensation

From 3131€ gross per month

Annual leave and RTT

44 jours

Remote Working practice and compensation

Pratique et indemnisation du TT

Transport

Prise en charge à 75% du coût et forfait mobilité durable jusqu’à 300€

About the offer

About the CNRS

The CNRS is a major player in fundamental research on a global scale. The CNRS is the only French organization active in all scientific fields. Its unique position as a multi-specialist allows it to bring together different disciplines to address the most important challenges of the contemporary world, in connection with the actors of change.

CNRS

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