Experimental Condensed Matter Physics: Nano magnets & Spintronics
Research
I am an experimental condensed matter physicist and my broad area of research is Magnetization and Transport in systems with strong electronic correlations. My current interests center around synthesis , characterization & magneto-transport in materials pertaining to spintronic applications. Here the term spintronics refers to the utilization of electronic spin in addition to its charge to store and transmit information and currently being envisaged as a potentially superior alternative to conventional semiconductor based electronics.
One of the key research areas in spintronics has been to identify materials with large spin polarization, as well as materials that can change their magnetic state by not only the applied magnetic field but also through electric field or stress. Retaining associated physical properties at room temperature for practical applications is another issue. In our lab we focus on Transition Metal Oxides( TMOs) relevant to above mentioned spintronic applications.
Experimental Condensed Matter Physics Nanomagnets & Spintronics
Research Interests
I am an experimental condensed matter physicist and my broad area of research is Magnetization and Transport in systems with strong electronic correlations. My current interests center around synthesis , characterization & magneto-transport in materials pertaining to spintronics applications. Here the term spintronics refers to the utilization of electronic spin in addition to its charge to store and transmit information and currently being envisaged as a potentially superior alternative to conventional semiconductor based electronics.
One of the key research areas in spintronics has been to identify materials with large spin polarization, as well as materials that can change their magnetic state by not only the applied magnetic field but also through electric field or stress. Retaining associated physical properties at room temperature for practical applications is another issue. In our lab we focus on Transition Metal Oxides( TMOs) relevant to above mentioned spintronic applications.
Size Effects : A major direction of our research has been the systematic study of magnetic and transport properties of TMOs in different length scales. We try to decipher both fundamental and technological aspects of down scaling with particular emphasis on retaining the functionality near the room temperature.
Interface Effects : Hybrid material provide a plethora of exciting effects that exists at the interface. We have earlier explored such effects arising from the altered symmetry conditions at the interface, (Top Figure on the right)which include observation of magnetoelectric and piezomagnetic traits extending right up to the room temperature .
Encapsulation of functional magnets inside carbon nanotubes : Carbon nanotubes are known for their electrical and thermal conductivity, mechanical strength. While metallic multiwall CNTs can make superior interconnects in nano scale devices, the semiconducting ones are crucial for nano electronics. Encapsulation of nano scale magnets inside metallic or semiconducting CNTs not only protects the encapsulate from environmental effects but also enables coupling of their individual functional properties ( Bottom Figure on the right)
Low Temperature Instrumentation related to Magnetization and Transport measurements in bulk and nano scale magnets. We are currently in the process of building an ac-susceptometer for measurement of linear and non linear magnetic susceptibility. This technique can be a very sensitive tool to identify unconventional magnetic phases such as superparamagnets or spin glasses.
Micron size single crystal of a half metallic ferromagnet with a 2-3 nm surface layer of a magnetoelectric antiferromagnet.
Antiferromagnetic & Magnetoelectric oxide inside a multiwall carbon nanotube.
Contact
Dr. Ashna Bajpai, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Dr. Homi Bhabha Road, Pune 411008.
E-mail: ashna@iiserpune.ac.in; Phone: +91 (20) 2590 8107