Imaging the effect of nanoscale static and dynamic disorder on topological spin currents

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Since the discovery of the quantum Hall effect, the subsequent links to topology, and the granting of the 2016 Nobel prize, topological materials have been an exotic and intriguing part of physics. Their potential application to electronics, and information technology coupled with the insights to more fundamental physics makes them a promising material to continue to investigate. However, despite tremendous advances in the area, our understanding of the materials is limited to single crystals with little attention paid to the role of defects or grain boundaries. Device application may require thin films technologies and the role of defects and gain boundaries will become critical. In this project, we will study and understand the effect of nanoscale static and dynamic disorder on topological spin currents. We will use a novel experimental methodology, pump-probe microscopy, allowing us to reach resolution down to 10fs and spatially resolve the effects of disorder and nanoscale heterogeneity. This will be combined with first principals theoretical modelling, to build up a new understanding of how this class of materials behaves away from the perfect single crystal limit which is the current state of the art. Shedding light on possible new phenomena and answer pressing, device relevant questions.