Dynamic State Analysis of Magnets for Information Technology

Objective

The constant expansion of data storage and processing, driven by the large-scale adoption of artificial intelligence and cloud computing, is unfortunately associated with an unsustainable growth of global energy consumption, accelerating climate change. Therefore, there is a pressing need for the development and transition towards energy-efficient information technologies that can help to mitigate this problem, so that society can ensure long-term sustainability in the digital age. Magnetic recording, the dominant non-volatile storage technology, uses magnetic bits to encode information by inducing high-speed reversals of the magnetisation state. This technologically crucial process is associated with high-energy dissipation when not properly designed to operate at the very field strength threshold of data writing, which is associated with a fundamental dynamic phase transition. DyStAMIT aims to pioneer the study of dynamic phase transitions in magnetic systems featuring technologically relevant magnetic materials with non-uniform ground states mirroring the behaviour of real-world storage technologies. Through a comprehensive experimental and theoretical study of dynamic phase space behaviour, DyStAMIT will identify phase boundaries, critical points and associated critical exponents. Thus, it will achieve fundamental insights into the nature of dynamic ordering under non-equilibrium conditions for technologically crucial nanoscale systems. This breakthrough will only be feasible by pushing the limits for real-time magneto-optical signal detection, high-quality sample fabrication, and high-performance simulations. In addition to its scientific objectives, DyStAMIT is strategically conceived to strengthen my transferable skills through world-class interdisciplinary research training. This will allow me to establish myself as a well-rounded and eventually fully independent scientist, highly qualified to assume leadership roles within research, academia, and industry.