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TSAR Presentation

Project description

Main concept and
concrete objectives

With the end of Moore’s law in sight, new schemes must be devised to achieve energy efficient, high density and high-speed data storage and processing. One emerging concept in today’s condensed-matter physics that may fuel next-generation information technology is topology.

Topological phenomena in real space can give rise to interesting objects (for instance magnetic skyrmions), which are topologically protected, i.e. endowed with an energy barrier associated with a change in their topology class. These solitonic objects have been found mainly in magnetic materials like ferromagnets and there are very recent reports that ferroelectrics may also be able to host them. Interestingly, antiferroic orders like antiferromagnetism or antiferroelectricity would provide extra properties e.g. a faster motion or an increased robustness.

In TSAR, we will design antiferroic systems based on oxide materials where spin and electric dipole textures will be nucleated. We will devise approaches to control these topological solitons using different stimuli, and in particular ultra-fast vortex light pulses carrying angular orbital momentum. Gathering a consortium with broad expertise comprising academic (experimental and theoretical groups) and industrial partners, strategies will be devised and applied starting from high quality materials to devices. The targeted breakthrough of our project is to realize the first proof-of-concept for agile, low-power, room-temperature spintronic and electronic devices based on antiferroic topological materials. Their intrinsic high speed operation and low-power consumption will help tackling present societal challenges. Success in these endeavors will establish topological antiferroic systems as a novel versatile platform for future energy-efficient nanoelectronics.

skyrmion in BiFeO3 from atomistic simulations

skyrmion in BiFeO3 from atomistic simulations

Technical Work Packages (WPs)

WP1 - Topological AntiferroMagnetic textures

Leader CNRS

This workpackage targets magnetic topological entities and aims to predict and grow the appropriate systems inwhich AFM solitons can be generated. These will then be prepared in a uniformmagnetic state in which individual skyrmions can be nucleated.

WP2 - Topological (Anti)ferroElectric textures

Leader UCL

This workpackage addresseselectrical topological entities where by exploiting epitaxial strain anddepolarization fields, we will stabilize ferroelectric solitons in oxideheterostructures and antiferroelectric solitons will be targeted at a laterstage. Chirality structures will be assessed by all relevant measurements ofthe consortium as well as resonant X-ray scattering.

WP3 - Writing and manipulation of topological systems

Leader CEA

The goal here is to writetopological entities in the AFM, FE and AFE materials made in WP1 and WP2 usinglight angular momentum. Then, we will aim to achieve a dynamic control of theirmotion. A strong theoretical environment supports these tasks.

WP4 - Advanced metrology for reading topological information

Leader CNRS

This workpackage is animportant one for establishing a protocol for the static characterization oftopological objects. We will hereby develop new tools for probing topologicalobjects at multiscale and access their dynamics.

WP5 - Proofs of concepts for antiferroic topological devices

Leader Thales

Several devices are envisionedand will be tested within TSAR’s perimeter. We will deliver proofs of conceptfor a negative capacitance Field Effect Transistor with an AFE gate or atopological FE gate. We will also realize a secured magnonic waveguideoperating at GHz and THz speed using our topological entities. Lastly, we willperform basic logic and filtering operations with topological antiferroic materialsand benchmark these devices against industrial products.

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