Description du poste
Description de l’offre
A joint Ph.D. project between DICO / LIDYL / CEA Saclay (F) and University of Bohemia (CZ)
Supervisors: Professors Christine Richter (DICO, CYU), Jan Minar (UWB)
Experimental and computational condensed matter & surface physics
Profil du candidat
We are seeking a highly motivated candidate, with good skills in experimental physics, data
analysis, and a Master degree in solid state physics. Experience with lasers, quantum
materials, vacuum technology, or (angle-resolved) photoemission spectroscopy will be highly
beneficial. Good oral communication and writing skills in English are required
Description du poste
With charge-based electronics getting to their limits in storage density, speed and energy
consumption, spin-based electronics (spintronics) is now a central research topic and
promises significant improvements in device performances. Controlling spins is a major goal
in spintronics since it is a low-energy-consumption handle to act on a fundamental property
of matter.
Taking advantage of the predicted giant Rashba effect at their interfaces, transition metal
dichalcogenide (TMDC) monolayers can achieve this goal.
The use of heavier elements, such as 5-d transition metals, is expected to induce strong spin-orbit coupling and can result in a desired increased band curvature near the top of the valence
band and hence in a reduced effective mass.
By combining advanced angle- and spin- resolved photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES and
SARPES), the project of this thesis aims at a thorough characterization of the spin-split bands
of TMDCs in the form of thin layers and exfoliated flakes which gives as well the possibility to
create twisted structures. By focusing on strong spin-orbit-coupled materials hence in a
reduced effective mass, this project falls within the more general field of Quantum Materials,
a fascinating venue to uncover the roles of symmetry, topology, dimensionality and strong
correlations in macroscopic observables.
The goal of the PhD thesis is to measure the spin texture of the TMDC layer in a first stage as
a function of its thickness and of the type of substrate, in a way compatible with high
resolution photoemission spectroscopy experiments. The studies include spin and timedependent measurements at the ATTOlab laser facility in CEA with HHG (higher harmonic
generation) photons and investigations with a small spot He-lamp and as well at synchrotron
radiation centers. The exfoliation of single layer samples and their stacking to twisted and
hybrid structures will also be aimed during the thesis.
In a second stage the student will join the research group of Prof. Jan Minar at University of
West Bohemia, Pilsen, Czech Republic. There she/he will complete her/his experimental
experience with computational skills for interpretation of experimental results and as well
other experiments
Localisation du poste
Site
LIDYL / CEA Saclay (F) and University of Bohemia (CZ)