SD-25047 PHD IN THEORETICAL STUDY OF ELECTRIC BUBBLES FOR UNCONVENTIONAL COMPUTING

How will you contribute?

Are you passionate about research? Do you want to get a PhD in an emerging field that will impact the future? Do you want to join one of the world-leading groups for theoretical research in functional materials? This may be your chance!

The trend toward reduced energy consumption and increased speed is leading to ever smaller memory and computing components of nearly atomistic dimensions. In that limit thermal fluctuations are prominent, which renders devices unreliable. But here is a teaser: can we take advantage of the thermal noise? This is a focus of “Unconventional Computing” paradigms that often exploit physical systems suited to specific tasks. Particularly exciting are novel designs employing quasiparticles, including magnetic skyrmions and potentially the so-called electric skyrmion bubbles, which are attracting growing interest.

Our LIST team has been involved in the discovery of electric skyrmion bubbles or “e-bubbles”, the electric counterpart of magnetic skyrmions. Recently, we have used accurate computer simulations to predict regimes in which “e-bubbles” display spontaneous Brownian motion, and we have also predicted strategies to create e-bubble currents. It is thus clear that these electric quasiparticles might also be useful in computing applications, potentially with some advantages over their magnetic relatives (e-bubbles can be controlled by electric fields, as opposed to the electric currents needed to control magnetic skyrmions). This is a distinct possibility that clearly warrants attention. This project is our ticket to this exciting journey!

The work will involve the use (and, potentially, the development) of theoretical and simulation methods to investigate the diffusion and behavior of e-bubbles, and to explore their application in specific computing devices. The student will be part of LIST’s Modeling of Functional Materials group, developing theoretical and simulation-based research under the supervision of Jorge Íñiguez-González (https://sites.google.com/site/jorgeiniguezresearch).

 The position is for 4 years, and the strongly preferred starting date is September 1, 2025. We offer a competitive salary and a dynamic work environment in one of the most rapidly-growing and best-funded research ecosystems in Europe.

Are you passionate about research? So are we! Come and join us

The Luxembourg Institute of Science and Technology (LIST) is a Research and Technology Organization (RTO) active in the fields of materials, environment and IT. By transforming scientific knowledge into technologies, smart data and tools, LIST empowers citizens in their choices, public authorities in their decisions and businesses in their strategies.

Do you want to know more about LIST? Check our website: https://www.list.lu/

Is Your profile described below? Are you our future colleague? Apply now!

You hold a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Condensed Matter Physics or related discipline.

You have some experience with computer simulation methods, and maybe a taste for coding.

Fluency in spoken and written English is a must. So, you’re the one we’re looking for!