Thin film intermetallic materials for spintronic applications

为了跟上不断发展的计算能力，引入了自旋电子器件的发展。这些装置操纵的是电子的自旋，而不是电荷。为了制造这样的装置，人们必须依靠具有精确微观结构的薄膜。此外，通过了解潜在晶体结构的对称性，人们可以创建这些新设备并在电子自旋中编码信息。通过这样做，这些设备比目前的技术节能得多。在这个项目中，我将在超高真空下使用物理气相沉积来制造薄膜，然后将其用于自旋电子应用。然而，随着项目的持续时间的推移，将分析一种特定的金属间化合物材料，从不同的材料开始。为了分析这些材料，将进行许多x射线衍射和x射线反射率的测量。这将有助于了解薄膜的晶体结构，以便在物理气相沉积阶段对薄膜进行任何调整。不仅可以了解晶体结构，而且还可以发现表面粗糙度，密度和薄膜厚度。将专门研究的材料将研究其各种磁性，以确定哪种自旋电子应用最适合它。这方面的例子有磁光表征、低温自旋和电子输运测量。对于所选择的材料，可以通过改变组成来利用对称性，从而影响能带结构和自旋电荷转换。允许更深入地了解薄膜，从而了解其在自旋电子学领域的潜在应用。

In order to keep up with the computational power that is constantly evolving, the development of spintronic devices have been introduced. These devices manipulate the spin of an electron rather than the charge. In order to create such devices one must rely on thin films with precise microstructure. Moreover, by understanding the symmetry of the underlying crystal structure one can create these new devices and encode information in electron spin. By doing this these devices are far more energy efficient than the current technologies.In this project I will be using physical vapour deposition under an ultra-high-vacuum to create thin films, which are then used for spintronic applications. To begin with different materials will be made however, as the duration of the project goes on a specific intermetallic material will be analysed. In order to analyse these materials many measurements of X-ray diffraction and X-ray reflectivity will be carried out. This will help understand the crystal structure of the thin film in order to make any adjustments to the thin film during the physical vapour deposition phase. Not only will crystal structure be understood but the surface roughness, density and film thickness can also be found. The material that will be specialised in will have its various magnetic properties investigated in order to determine which spintronic application is best suited for it. Such examples of this are magneto-optical characterisation, low temperature spin and electronic transport measurements. For the chosen material the symmetry can be exploited through varying composition which can influence band structure and spin charge conversion. Allowing for a greater understanding of the thin film and hence knowing its potential applications in the field of spinstronics.