seed projects

Xiaojia Wang, Jian-Ping Wang, Andre Mkhoyan: Growth and Optical-SOT Study of Charge-to-Spin Conversion Efficiency in Nitride Altermagnets

(a) Calculated band structure of Mn₃GeN; (b) Schematic of optical-SOT metrology for measuring charge-to-spin conversion efficiency.

This Seed project focuses on synthesis and investigation of charge-to-spin conversion in nitride altermagnets such as Mn₃GeN using optical spin-orbit torque (optical-SOT) metrology, which detects current-induced spin torques through the magneto-optical Kerr effect. By integrating thin-film growth (J.P. Wang), structural characterization (A. Mkhoyan), and optical-SOT measurements and automation (X.J. Wang), the team will establish an optical platform to quantify the charge-to-spin conversion efficiency and study Mn₃GeN along with other SOT materials, such as W/Pt/W trilayers, Pt-W alloys, and RuO₂ films. The results will provide the first experimental validation of charge-to-spin conversion in nitride altermagnets and support the development of energy-efficient altermagnet-based spintronic technologies.

Funded by the National Science Foundation through the University of Minnesota MRSEC under Award Number DMR-2011401