Super-resolution magnetic correlation microscope

Introduction

Over the past several decades, the microelectronics industry has revolutionized nearly every aspect of our lives. The ever-growing need for faster and more efficient devices, recently emphasized by the extreme computing requirements of artificial intelligence techniques, is pushing traditional device architectures to their limits. This situation is prompting the search for novel physical realizations of such devices.

Current Approaches

Currently, the most promising approach involves magnetic materials. This can be witnessed through:

• The recent advent of magnetic memories
• The development of logic devices based on hybrid electronic/magnetic structures
• The flow of magnetic charge, referred to as “spintronics”

Challenges in Spintronics

Despite the tremendous progress achieved, the field of spintronics is held back by both fundamental and practical open questions. These issues include:

1. Magnetization switching and excitation dynamics
2. Effects of magnetic and topological defects
3. Local conductance properties of magnetic devices

A major obstacle encountered in addressing these important open questions stems from limited measurement and characterization techniques. High-resolution sensing of dynamic response and conductance cannot be achieved with existing near-field tools.

Proposed Solution

I propose a new kind of microscope: a far-field super-resolution magnetic correlation microscopy platform. Building upon progress in the field of magnetic microscopy using defects in diamond, including our recent results studying chiral-magnetic hybrid devices, this unique platform will constitute a leap forward over state-of-the-art magnetic sensing techniques.

Expected Outcomes

This platform will enable, for the first time, local nanometer scale magnetic correlation data unattainable by other means. I will employ these ground-breaking capabilities to reveal the dynamics related to:

• Excitation creation and control in 2D magnetic materials
• Current/spin conductance

These insights are expected to lead to breakthrough magnetic device architectures.